HOUMA — The COVID-19 outbreak is forcing some Catholic bishops, including the Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux, to waive the rule requiring the faithful to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent.
Most Rev. Shelton Fabre announced his decision dispensing the faithful in his diocese from the rule on Thursday. That decision comes after bishops in New Jersey and other states waived the rule for their areas.
In a letter announcing the decision, Fabre noted that the outbreak has "placed most, if not all, of our faithful in a situation" in which the rising costs of seafood and the danger of going to public supermarkets "(makes) it clearly difficult for them to fulfill this practice."
Despite the dispensation, Fabre urged those who can meet the meatless obligation to continue to fulfill it. For those who can't, Fabre encourages them to perform acts of charity or piety in exchange.
To read Fabre's full letter, click here.
