Lenten Campaign 2025
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One of the hallmarks of Lent for Catholics around the world is observing abstinence from animal meat on Fridays during Lent.
This is a practice that has been observed by the Catholic Church for centuries and is one of the reasons fish fries are popular parish events during Lent.
In the last few years, imitation meats have risen in popularity, especially as some people try to avoid animal meat, for environmental or other reasons.
Many fast food chains have created their own "impossible burgers" or "beyond meat" nuggets.
Could a Catholic eat these fake meat options on Fridays during Lent?
What do the rules say?
According to the USCCB, the laws of the Church classify abstinence from "land animals."
Abstinence laws consider that meat comes only from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep or pigs --- all of which live on land. Birds are also considered meat.
Imitation meats are typically not made with any animal meat. Normally they are plant based meats, which would put them under an acceptable classification for Fridays during Lent.
What about lab-grown meat, meat that has been grown in a scientific lab? For meat that was manufactured by a scientist in a lab, they use meat cells and so technically that type of meat would be forbidden. This presumes that this meat is different than a meat product -- such as eggs, or broth -- which are acceptable.
Should we eat fake meat on Fridays?
The broader question, though, relates to our own conscience and the purpose of abstinence as a spiritual sacrifice. While it is permissible to eat a plant-based burger, we need to decide for ourselves whether or not it is in the spirit of Lent.
Eating a juicy plant-based burger on Fridays seems to be at odds with the intention of performing a sacrifice on Fridays.
This is also why eating an expensive lobster dinner would be in the same category of "permissible," but questionable in terms of the spirit of the fast.
For much of the Church's history meat was singled out as a worthy sacrifice on account of its association with feasts and celebrations. In most ancient cultures meat was considered a delicacy and the "fattened calf" was not slaughtered unless there was something to celebrate.
Since Fridays were thought of as a day of penance and mortification, eating meat on a Friday to celebrate the death of Christ didn't seem right.
Whatever you do on Fridays during Lent (or throughout the year), actively discern whether or not your meal honors the death of Jesus.
Maybe eating a fake meat burger is a sacrifice for you, as you really love meat and hate plant-based burgers.
Fridays are days of prayer and penance, and how we approach our meals should be shaped by our discernment.
