As Luck Would Have It, Bishops Allow Meat on St. Patrick's Day

About one-third of the country's Catholic bishops waived the no-meat rule for St. Patrick's Day. (By Ron Kuenstler -- Associated Press)

Irwin said he has childhood memories of his father, who was a plumber, going to confession during Lent and asking the priest for dispensation from the meat ban. The priest always granted the request.

"His work required him to ingest enough to sustain his work," he said. "I'll never forget it."

That resonates with Manuel Aviles, 26, who was born in El Salvador and lives in Arlington. He said that although he might not get around to celebrating St. Patrick's Day tomorrow night, he will have a busy day at work and needs the extra energy meat gives him.

"I agree with the dispensation. It gives people the opportunity to celebrate as a family, and that's the most important part of the church, so praise God," Aviles said.

The talk was more of fish and chips in dioceses where bishops opted to leave the ban in place, including Columbus, Ohio, Sioux City, Iowa, and Harrisburg, Pa.

Mike Larkin of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish organization, in York, Pa., said he was surprised by the decision of Harrisburg Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades.

"Isn't he Irish?" Larkin said of Rhoades.

Larkin said that he usually follows the rules and doesn't eat meat -- and that he would observe the ban this year as well if he weren't headed to the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York. The ban on meat has definitely been lifted there, as Saint Patrick is the city's patron saint.