MARCH 17 IN CHICAGO, FOR THOSE WHO CARE

Today the Archdiocese of Chicago put this, restated below, on its web page.

Friday, March 17, 2006: Optional Memorial of SAINT PATRICK: The optional memorial of SAINT PATRICK, March 17, 2006 falls on Friday of the second week of Lent. Because of this, Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., has given a general dispensation from the norm to abstain from meat on this day. Please note that this dispensation is for Friday, March 17, 2006 only. On this day (Friday, March 17, 2006) Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago who choose to make use of this general dispensation are asked to substitute another form of penance for the Lenten Friday abstinence.

I guess the other way to address this would have been to declare boiled corned beef not "meat" and not worry about it. Try it some time when it has been in a vat for three hours and there is no mustard. I would have emigrated too.