I was disheartened to read (Main news, Nov. 11) that the Roman Catholic bishops of the United States are moving to reinstate the Friday fast from red meat as penance for abortion and assisted suicide.
Although I believe that both these issues are important questions for discussion among believing people, I am afraid that an archaic fast fails to engage the complexity of the issues. It seems that the bishops would do better to call the faithful to give of their time and treasure, in addition to their prayer, to support women in crisis pregnancies and to care for the sick and elderly. Such practices would do much to speak against the “culture of death” about which the bishops are concerned.
The problems plaguing our society require a much deeper, definitely more prayerful response. I fail to see how abstaining from meat on Friday will show anyone where we stand. On issues of abortion and assisted suicide, racism and poverty, homophobia and sexism, we Catholics should put our money where our mouths are instead of putting “lobster and shrimp” on our palates and calling it penance!
