The Catholic Church started eating fish on Fridays to boost the Italian economy
the verdict
REFUTED
the evidence says no
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
0 sources for · 2 against
AS REPORTEDno primary record reached; this is what the reporting says
Historical sources and expert explanations show that the practice of abstaining from meat and eating fish on Fridays is an ancient Christian tradition predating the medieval era, directly debunking the myth that it was invented by the church to boost the Italian economy.
# Was the practice of eating fish during Lent started by the church to spur the economy of Italy?
Tags: nutrition, history, catholic-church, italy
- Score: 16
- Views: 8937
- Answers: 2
- Answered: yes
- Asked by: Chad (9227 rep)
- Asked: 2012-02-24
- Edited: 2018-02-22
- Site: skeptics
## Question
At lunch today I heard the claim again that the practice of eating fish on Fridays during Lent was started by the church to help save a floundering Italian economy at a time when fishing was its primary industry.
I have heard this many times and a quick search shows this is a common claim. It was even the subject of an article in the Ferris State Torch in 2010
Is there any evidence to support either side of this claim?
## Answers
### Answer by Mirek Lobasz (score: 9)
The practice of giving up meat for Lent has been part of the Christian tradition since before the fourth century and before the schism between East and West. In some traditions this means a completely vegan diet. Check out this site for more information: Catholic Encyclopedia.
Relevant parts:
Nature of the fast
Neither was there originally less divergence regarding the nature of
the fast. For example, the his
The real story behind fish Fridays: lust, lies and empire : The Salt : NPR
Accessibility links
The real story behind fish Fridays: lust, lies and empire : The Salt An old myth holds that Catholics eat fish on Fridays because of a secret pact a medieval pope made to sell more fish. That's just a fish tale. The real story behind fish Fridays is way better.
### Food History & Culture
# Lust, lies and empire: The fishy tale behind eating fish on Friday
11:34 AM ET
Did the pope really make a secret pact to sell more fish? No, but the real story of eating fish on Fridays is much more fantastical. Adam Cole/NPR hide caption
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Adam Cole/NPR
Did the pope really make a secret pact to sell more fish? No, but the real story of eating fish on Fridays is much more fantastical.
Adam Cole/NPR
It sounds like the plot of a Dan Brown thriller: A powerful medieval pope makes a secret pact to prop up the fishing industry that ultimately alters global economics. The result: Millions of Catholics around the world end up eating fish on Fridays as part of a religious observance.
This "realpolitik" explanation of why Catholics eat fish on Friday has circulated for so long, many peop
Everything we examined (2)
This check searched the claim as stated. It did not run a separate search for evidence against it.