BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Traditionally, Catholics abstain from eating meat every Friday during Lent but this year the Baton Rouge Diocese is allowing it,just this once.

In a decree, Bishop Michael Duca is lifting the Lenten obligation since St. Patrick’s Day happens to fall on a Friday year. He states that Baton Rouge area Catholics are encouraged to abstain from eating meat on a different day or by practicing an act of charity.

“I hereby decree and grant to all Catholics of the Diocese of Baton Rouge (and those present within this territory on March 17, 2023) who celebrate the Feast of Saint Patrick, a dispensation from the required abstinence from meat.

These Catholics are encouraged to substitute this practice of abstinence on another day or with another penitential practice or act of charity.”

Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge

Read the full decree below.