The Coalition of the Swilling

Usually, if a feast day falls on a Friday in Lent, dispensation is given, although it is up to the individual bishops. The Des Moines' bishop's admonition is typical - so, for example, you'd eat the CB&C on Friday after (for example) giving up meat on Thursday the 16th.

Your mileage may vary.

That's what I don't get about Catholicism - you need some authority extraneous to the Bible to tell you what's moral and what isn't? An authority that doesn't participate in the most vital function in society (family life)? An authority that covers up heinous crap within their own ranks? WTF do they know about life? They can take their dispensation and stick it - if I'm doing something wrong, I'll take it up with the Lord myself on Judgement Day - and if I am doing something wrong, who are they to make it right with some BS penance?

Come on over to the Protestant side, guys - we have much better singing, food (leastways down South we Baptists do) and don't have to lick someone's fingers for our communion wafer.

Well, the food in Little Italy is pretty darn tasty, John...and I'm sure the Lord will have lots to 'discuss' with all of us on that fateful day.

Far be it from me to get into a pissing match on someone else's blog regarding Catholicism, especially a blog run by non-Catholics. You can come over to my blog later on this evening and have at it, if you like.

Thanks 'Fly. I think cranky-pants woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

Yowza John! Cut 'em some slack.

Wasn't it just last year that opening day at Fenway Park fell on a Lenten fast day and the bishop there made a special dispensation regarding ballpark franks?

[ John - two words:
(1)chill
(2)enema ]

Bacon is a condiment.

Figured as much, Sluggo and thusly felt safe suggesting it. Pork fat is always a delightful addition to a meal.

Ooooh, and Diptera, don't be all pissypoopie! Good heavens, not like you at all. And let me gently correct your perceptions. As for the 'non-Catholic' moniker, that's not exactly precise, as every last one of us was baptized Roman Catholic, major dad stills carries his Roman Catholic faith and heritage proudly, I defend the faith from the mis-information spread about it robustly (you've even lauded my arguments/explanations to the ignorant, if I remember correctly) and major dad's sainted mother has been a Roman Catholic of the Latin persuasion since the 20's, so she has even you beat. Whither we've wandered since, our foundation was laid firmly on the altar pre-Vatican II (well, not Crusader, frickin' babe in swaddling clothes that he is.) Toss in Kcruella with her 8 siblings and fiercely Hungarian Roman Catholic family, and it's fair to say we're awash with Papists in one form or another. So you cool your tiny jets and I will tell John not to be so abrupt. (He is a rude cranky pants today, not like HIM at all either but after all we've talked through here, you should know better than to get bent out of shape.)

Yeah, I got up on the wrong side of bed this morning. I think this is what got me

"any person or group within the church is welcome to write the archbishop and ask for an individual dispensation."

because to me it says "come crawling to me an acknowledge my authority". I'm dealing with just such a few personalities at work right now, and it crawled right up my butt, especially as it seems to fly in the face of John 3:30 (as does much of the attitude of the Catholic hierarchy, and pretty much any protestant who puts his face on TV).

I'm properly grateful to the Church for its stabilizing influence in keeping Christianity from being fragemented (a la Islam) during its formative years, but this kind of attitude is why Protestants split off in the first place.

("Tiny" in ONLY the little brother, affectionate diminuitive sense.)

Well, nicely done John. I knew there had to be an explanation, as you're not usually so...curt. A pox on them all from us then.

I never inquired of the family history, Ms. Sister, and I'm sorry - I only know Bings is not (having been to his house of worship). And I do appreciate that this is a good place to see cooperation between the various brand names - that's actually why John's post caught me out.

For most of the afternoon I've been stealing a few moments here and there, crafting a reply, which now strikes me as a little cranky in its own right. I've edited the worst of it in light of the subsequent comments, and I'm sorry if it seems too snarky.

Delightfully pissy post, Diptera, but hugely informative for these Protestant heretic Orangemen and you could have posted the unedited version here. My only beef is "the Coalition this" and "the Coalition that", like we were Hamas in St. Peter's Square ~ veritable barbarians at the gate. Yeesh! The comment that got YOUR goat said "John" underneath it, for crying foul out loud. The post was a public service announcement from the resident Druid who'd just realized in Lent and St. Paddy's, there was a conflict. (Well, a conflict in the comments, anyway, faith and begorrah!)

Man.

It's the whole 'Hasselhoff' thing, isn't it?

Looks like I picked a bad day to quit sniffing glue.

Oh, whatever, you're all heretical Jews anyway. ;-)

Oh says you...!

I like to think of myself as Jew 2.0, Dave.

The Hasselhoff thing... naaaa. A little sloppy on the attribution, though I did say it was John, I didn't say it was a comment. But I wanted to give you some linky goodness and I think that part went well. Thanks for your kinds words, and to Bings for the thoughtful comment.