no meat on fridays

Question from Anonymous on 9/28/2007:

As a Catholic I don't eat meat on fridays so I sometimes order take out pasta dishes on fridays from a nearby restaurant. You cannot see any meat in their sauce but just to be sure I inquired if they used any meat in any way in their sauce and was told they use the "fat" from meat to flavor their pasta sauce. Is this acceptable when not eating meat on fridays? Thanks.

Answer by Rev. Mark J. Gantley, JCL on 9/28/2007:

Catholics in the U.S. are prohibited from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Fridays during Lent.

Fat used for flavoring is OK.