The Bishop “Frees the Faithful from a Dilemma.” Does Anyone Still Care About Such Bans?

The bishop granted a dispensation for the Friday after Corpus Christi

Legnica Bishop Andrzej Siemieniewski issued a decree granting all faithful staying within the Diocese of Legnica a dispensation from the obligation to abstain from meat on Friday, June 5, 2026.

As explained, the decision is connected with the Feast of Corpus Christi, which falls on the previous day, and the long weekend, which many people will spend with family and friends.

In return for making use of the dispensation, the bishop asks the faithful to pray for new priestly vocations for the Diocese of Legnica.

“Freeing the faithful from a dilemma”

Particular attention is drawn to the way in which the diocese justified the decision.

The statement published on social media reads:

“In order to free the faithful from the dilemma of whether or not they may eat meat dishes on Friday, Legnica Bishop Andrzej Siemieniewski grants a dispensation to everyone staying within the Diocese of Legnica.”

This is precisely the passage that may attract the greatest interest. Just a few decades ago, observing Friday abstinence from meat was obvious to many Catholics. Today, reality looks different.

According to research and observations by sociologists of religion, regular religious practices are steadily declining, especially among younger generations. It is therefore difficult to assess how many residents would actually wonder, while barbecuing or on a family trip, whether eating sausage on the Friday after Corpus Christi is permitted.

Tradition or formality?

Dispensations for Fridays falling during holidays, long weekends or local celebrations have been a practice in the Catholic Church for years. From the perspective of canon law, they have a specific purpose and release the faithful from an obligation arising from Church regulations.

At the same time, it is difficult not to notice that such statements sound somewhat anachronistic to part of society today. This is especially true when they refer to “freeing people from a dilemma” that may simply not exist for many people.

This does not change the fact that, for the faithful who try to follow the Church’s rules, the bishop’s decree means one thing: on Friday, June 5, they may eat meat dishes without concern.

According to the decree, people making use of the dispensation should pray for new priestly vocations for the Diocese of Legnica.