Corned Beef and Catholic Hypocrisy

It is St. Patrick's Day, a day adopted by American losers as an excuse to get wasted. Many of us need no reason, especially some fake holiday. Sometimes every day deserves a popped cork and a celebration. Still, there are the throngs that need permission from The Man to partake in great imbimbition of Bud Light. Tonight is theirs.

It also is a great day of holy hypocrisy. St. Patrick's Day somehow conjures the desire to consume corned beef and cabbage, a dish that made me puke as a kid. HOWEVER this year St. Patrick's Day falls on Friday during lent, a holy time when Catholics are not allowed to eat meat on Friday. What to do? Honor our allegiance to our faith or engage a great American holiday tradition?

Well, the Bishop of St. Augustine Florida decided to intervene and sort out this great moral dilema. He granted special release from the restrictions of Lent, allowing Catholics to eat their meat.

Yes, religion is all about sacrifice for the Lord, at least until it is inconvenient. Every year I have to endure the tired mantra from my family, "It is Friday and I'd kill for a cheeseburger... oh the hunger pangs..." as they fling themselves under the mighty wheels of God's bus, martyrs for not partaking in the consumption of animal flesh for 24 hours. Oh the pain.

If it is all about sacrifice, then sacrifice. Make this one extra special. Don't touch the corned beef, maybe skip a meal entirely. Maybe buy dinner for a bum or give the money you would have spent on corned beef on a Powerbar and give the rest to someone that needs it. Could a personal sacrifice on a concurrent Lenten St. Patrick's Day be more meaningful?

Wouldn't that make Baby Jesus happier?

Why is it the Catholics always make special consideration for priests and parrishoners that put meat in their mouths that doesn't belong there?

It takes an atheist like me to come up with such stupid ideas.