# Disappointed in the Catholic Church once more. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 8, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777 "2019-03-08T17:12:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/1 "2019-03-08T17:12:20Z")
Wednesday evening I met my gf at a local brewery for beers and dinner. This is the time of year when, for reasons I’m not sure of, Catholic churches around here fry fish. One church in particular offered a deal for patrons of the brewery. They had their menus and a phone number so drinkers could call, place an order, and church-people would deliver your food in 15 minutes. I’d looked forward to a giant fish sammich all day long. I arrived first and had a beer. As soon as my gf arrived (around 7 pm) I called the number to place our order. The woman who answered told me they were done cooking for the day. She seemed surprised that anyone would be eating dinner after seven. I’m almost willing to forgive all the pederasty I hear about, but goddammit I wanted that fish sammich.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/2 "2019-03-08T18:50:56Z")
Maybe somebody will come up with the bright idea of having a Catholic-run restaurant that’s only open on Fridays and serves fish, kind of the inverse of Chic-Fil-A. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/3 "2019-03-08T19:08:28Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > …This is the time of year when, for reasons I’m not sure of, Catholic churches around here fry fish. … It’s because they’re abstaining from meat. So they eat fish, which is totally not meat. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/4 "2019-03-08T19:11:43Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > It’s because they’re abstaining from meat. So they eat fish, which is totally not meat. But they’re skipping meat because …crucifixion…right? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/5 "2019-03-08T19:13:28Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > But they’re skipping meat because …crucifixion…right? Yup, that’s the cut-to-the-chase reason. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/6 "2019-03-08T19:17:21Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > It’s because they’re abstaining from meat. So they eat fish, which is totally not meat. Have you ever beat your fish? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/7 "2019-03-08T19:19:25Z")
Euphemistically, yes. Frequently. Like, too much. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/8 "2019-03-08T20:16:53Z")
Fish fries run through Lent (first Friday following Ash Wednesday through the Friday preceding Good Friday). Depending how successful they are, they require a LOT of work–all of it volunteer. The times will typically vary between 4:00 p.m.and 8.00 p.m. (Our runs 5:00 to 7:30.) They are typically fund raising events. The effort to get enough volunteers to cook, serve, and clean up after from 400 to 800 meals every Friday for six weeks is enormous. I am sorry that you were unable to get your fish sandwich, but it was not a conspiracy to deprive you. You might try places such as Knights of Columbus halls or the local Polish or Slovenian or whatever social clubs. They might have longer hours. Even some non-Catholic outfits (VFW, American Legion) hold fish fries. You will very likely find locations and hours in the food section of the newspaper. (Cleveland Plain Dealer runs a list for the Fridays in Lent although I cannot promise that the Tribune or Sun-Times do, as well.) ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/9 "2019-03-08T21:46:44Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I am sorry that you were unable to get your fish sandwich, but it was not a conspiracy to deprive you. OTOH it may, **kayaker** , have been a conspiracy to deprave you. Just kidding! That wouldn’t require a conspiracy! Hell, it probably wouldn’t require any outside help at all. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/10 "2019-03-08T22:10:24Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I am sorry that you were unable to get your fish sandwich, but it was not a conspiracy to deprive you. > > You might try places such as Knights of Columbus halls or the local Polish or Slovenian or whatever social clubs. They might have longer hours. But the issue was they were going to deliver it to him at the bar, so he could have a sandwich and a beer. Of course, they were likely serving beer at the fish fry also, but that’s not the point. They just need to put delivery hours on the flyers, and then \*\*kayaker \*\*would not have gotten his hopes up. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/11 "2019-03-08T22:22:23Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > They just need to put delivery hours on the flyers, and then \*\*kayaker \*\*would not have gotten his hopes up. Indeed. Whoever made up the flyer/menu listed the brewery hours (4-10). I’ll get my fish! A side of haluski as well. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/12 "2019-03-08T22:25:57Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’m almost willing to forgive all the pederasty I hear about, but goddammit I wanted that fish sammich.:mad: Where did you get your Moral Compass? A 'Dollar Store"? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/13 "2019-03-08T23:26:45Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > It’s because they’re abstaining from meat. So they eat fish, which is totally not meat. Under the medieval theory of humours, foods were assigned a tendency to be either cold or hot and either moist or dry. Fish were cold and moist, while meat was hot and, depending on the type of meat, various values of moist or dry. So fish and meat were clearly separate classifications. > [@kayaker](#): > > But they’re skipping meat because …crucifixion…right? Because meat is expensive and indulgent and, promoting warm humours as it does, provokes vigor and lusts. If fasting is good for the soul, forgoing meat is half-fast. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/14 "2019-03-08T23:56:22Z")
Some of the Polish ones around here serve pierogies, I believe. Not any in my area. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/15 "2019-03-09T00:21:30Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > It’s because they’re abstaining from meat. So they eat fish, which is totally not meat. [Also historically beaver](https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/thoughtful-animal/once-upon-a-time-the-catholic-church-decided-that-beavers-were-fish/), which is a fish. IT IS, SHUT THE FUCK UP. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/16 "2019-03-09T01:02:35Z")
What always amuses me is that you’re supposed to be fasting, but you can go out and have this big fancy lobster dinner, but not leftover meatloaf? It’s kind of cheating. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/17 "2019-03-09T02:40:46Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’d looked forward to a giant fish sammich all day long. I arrived first and had a beer. As soon as my gf arrived (around 7 pm) I called the number to place our order. The woman who answered told me they were done cooking for the day. She seemed surprised that anyone would be eating dinner after seven. Well duh. With younger people leaving churches, they expect their clientele to all be used to early bird specials. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/18 "2019-03-09T04:18:27Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by **tomndebb** > > I am sorry that you were unable to get your fish sandwich, but it was not a conspiracy to deprive you. > > > > You might try places such as Knights of Columbus halls or the local Polish or Slovenian or whatever social clubs. They might have longer hours. > > But the issue was they were going to deliver it to him at the bar, so he could have a sandwich and a beer. Of course, they were likely serving beer at the fish fry also, but that’s not the point. > > They just need to put delivery hours on the flyers, and then \*\*kayaker \*\*would not have gotten his hopes up. That’s another reason for him to look for a KofC Hall for his fish fry. They very often have a bar, where the beer tends to be pretty inexpensive. Or maybe I’m just remembering more halcyon days. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/19 "2019-03-09T04:20:34Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > [Also historically beaver](https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/thoughtful-animal/once-upon-a-time-the-catholic-church-decided-that-beavers-were-fish/), which is a fish. IT IS, SHUT THE FUCK UP. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > What always amuses me is that you’re supposed to be fasting, but you can go out and have this big fancy lobster dinner, but not leftover meatloaf? It’s kind of cheating. Try the beaver meatloaf. I can practically guarantee that it’s leftover (I make no warranties about its age.) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777/20 "2019-03-09T04:22:02Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Have you ever beat your fish? I very often prefer mine battered… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-in-the-catholic-church-once-more/830777.md?page=2)