It used to be sinful to eat meat on Friday. Is this still the case? If not, why not? Why and when did they change this law? Isn't Friday supposed to be a day of penance? 

These are some great questions and all Catholics should know the correct answers to them. They are found in the Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence issued by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops on November 18, 1966.

This pastoral statement is a great document and we highly recommend you read it in its entirety, but here are some of the highlights for your quick review.

Eating meat on Friday, still a sin or not?

Although the bishops did "terminate the traditional law of abstinence [from meat on Fridays outside of Lent] under pain of sin, as the sole prescribed means of observing Friday,” they still gave "first place to abstinence from flesh meat" as a way penance. See paragraph 24. So basically this means it is no longer a sin to eat meat on Friday, but it is still a good idea to abstain from it as a form of penance.

Friday is a day of penance. Or, at least it is supposed to be.

The bishops make clear that Friday "remains a special day of penitential observance throughout the year,” meaning not just Fridays during Lent. Every Friday is to be a day of "self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ." A traditional way of observing this day of penance was, and still is, to abstain from eating meat, but it is not the only way. See paragraph 23.

Eating meat is no longer the sole means of observing Friday.

The bishops make the point in paragraph 19 that the renunciation of eating meat "is not always and for everyone the most effective means of practicing a penance." 

How true. For example: What if one is vegetarian and doesn’t eat meat anyway? Then that would mean abstaining from meat on Friday is not a sacrifice or a penance, is it?

Or how much penance is involved by heading over to a nice seafood restaurant and pigging out on all you can eat catfish or splurging on the Shrimp and Lobsterfest Special since you "can't eat meat?" 

I used to think about this as a kid. I even asked my parents, "Wouldn't it be better to stay home and eat a bologna sandwich rather than go to Red Lobster for dinner?" Not that we ever went out to dinner, but I would see the parking lot full of cars. I guess I was thinking along the same lines as the bishops, not bad for a little kid. Which brings us to the next point.

Renunciation of other things would be more penitential.

In paragraphs 20 & 26 the bishops basically state that if abstinence from meat does not imply penance, then one should perform some other form of penance. Foremost in mind, they suggest self-discipline from stimulants and temperance in the use of alcoholic beverages. Uh, oh. I'm translating this to mean cutting back on coffee and/or giving up Friday afternoon happy-hour or wine with dinner. Interesting suggestions, don't you think?

Good deeds on Friday are a way to offer sacrifice and service to the Lord.

The bishops direct us to the value of service too. They say it would bring "great glory to God and good to souls" if Fridays found us doing good deeds", tending to our families and communities, visiting the sick, etc. TGIF takes on a new meaning when you put it this way, especially as seen through the eyes of those we tend. Paragraph 27.

The fact of sin means the need for penance.

The bishops wrap up their statement making clear that Friday observance has NOT been abolished. Their hope, rather, is for more profound penitential conversion. 

Summary

* Friday is and always will be a day of penance.

* Fasting and abstinence are held in first place among works of voluntary self-denial and personal penance.

* Other means of self-denial and penance may also serve the Friday observance.

The Bishops Conclude

28. In summary, let it not be said that by this action, implementing the spirit of renewal coming out of the Council, we have abolished Friday, repudiated the holy traditions of our fathers, or diminished the insistence of the Church on the fact of sin and the need for penance. Rather, let it be proved by the spirit in which we enter upon prayer and penance, not excluding fast and abstinence freely chosen, that these present decisions and recommendations of this conference of bishops will herald a new birth of loving faith and more profound penitential conversion, by both of which we become one with Christ, mature sons of God, and servants of God's people. N.B. The effective date of these regulations is the first Sunday of Advent, November 27, 1966.

So, there you have it! Remember to keep every Friday a penitential day, for the love of God.