Catholics allowed to eat meat on St. Patrick's Day during Lent in select areas.

Bishop Edward C. Malesic of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland has granted a dispensation from the obligation to abstain from meat on St. Patrick's Day, which falls on a Friday during Lent. However, he asks those who exercise this dispensation to select another non-Friday day during Lent to abstain from eating meat or to make some offering on behalf of the poor. On the other hand, Malesic said that Catholics attending the Cleveland Guardian's home opener on Good Friday cannot be granted a dispensation to the practice of abstaining from meat as it is a day of reflection, fasting, prayer, and penance.