This practice began in 1966 with Pope Paul VI. Since Jesus died on a Friday, we are supposed to remember His sacrifice and death through little sacrifices of our own. Each Friday should be a mini Good Friday, as each Sunday should be a mini Easter. I am adding a link to an article about the start of the practice of not eating meat on Fridays.
[more from the same website] "The general law of the Catholic Church states that Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday should observe Ash Wednesday and all Fridays as days of abstinence. In 1966, as permitted then, the U.S. bishops decided to modify the general legislation. Instead of requiring abstinence on every Friday, Catholics 14 and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and the Fridays of Lent. Those between 18 and 59 must also fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday."
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on fridays catholics are not allowed to eat meat by:snakeman
Yes, Catholics traditionally abstain from eating meat on Fridays as a religious practice, and often choose to eat fish instead.
On Ash Wednesday, Catholics would abstain from meat and fast. On Fridays, Catholics would abstain from meat.
No, we have no dietary restrictions, except not eating meat on Fridays during Lent as Penance.
Catholics traditionally eat fish on Fridays as a form of abstinence from meat.
Yes, alligators are not warm blooded animals. Meat from warm blooded animals is not to be eaten on Fridays in Lent.
Roman Catholics may not eat meat during a day of fast (Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent, etc.) Otherwise, Catholics have no dietary restrictions.
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No, all Catholics are required to abstain from the age of 14 until death.
Catholicism is world-wide, and has no special dietary requirements except to abstain from meat on Fridays, in many countries currently, this requirement is reduced to giving something up on Fridays outside of Lent, not necessarily meat.