Meatless Fridays year round?

U.S. Catholic bishops talk about re-instituting the practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays year round, and not just during Lent.

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[TenderTrap86]

Our shepards in the USCCB should realize that giving sheep options, instead of directions, will leave them easy prey for wolves. Vatican II called for a renewal of penance, but under our bishops pentitential practices have all but ceased. Are they aware that only a small minority of Catholics know that they have to perform a Friday penance with the current rule? Friday abstinence may make some marginally attached Catholics leave the Church, but some of them will stay and become closer to Christ.

[Jon Sorenson]

When the anti-communist police come, with their flamethrowers, I will already be wearing my red, flame-retardant suite while singing the Chinese national anthem (in Russian) and wielding a sickle in one hand and a hammer in the other....let them come.

[Constantine Aetos]

Yeah I know but there has to be some form of "asceticism" in Christian life. I don't know, at least we can agree that the Church and world is in a state of disarray.

[Jacob Biddle]

Meat is permitted only on Fridays that fall on a Solemnity.

[Jacob Biddle]

Same here.

[Jacob Biddle]

Of course they are! How dare you suggest the contrary. Shame on you. I shall have to summon a policeman to set you on fire. Communism somewhere is a threat to democracy everywhere. Listen, I've already told you once.

[Constantine Aetos]

Quality over quantity is what the Church should be, not the other way around.

[Boom Han]

I'm confused now, where does it say officially that meat is PERMITTED anywhere in the documents from Rome? I thought we were always suppose to abstain from meat EVERY Friday of the year anyway...

[Jon Sorenson]

What are the "parts of the community" that have been neglected?

[Jon Sorenson]

I'm not saying that "religion is something done only on a Sunday"....how do you get that from what I said? Bishop John Wester at about 1:00 puts it well when he points out that in our day and age "giving up meat" just doesn't entail a meaningful sacrifice for very many people. Indeed, a fish day is culturally indulgent especially for those of us (me) who love to eat fish. Then he quibbles with vague stuff about how its some kind of reminder. Obligatory penances on Friday are a good idea.