The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh hit many Pittsburgh Pirates fans in the stomach Wednesday, telling them to stay away from hot dogs at the team’s home opener on Friday.
The Good Friday game sees the Pirates host the Chicago White Sox, and the diocese recognizes the sacrifice it is asking its faithful baseball fans to make, as Catholics are supposed to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent, especially on the Friday preceding Easter, according to a report.
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“We wish the Pirates well, and we will be rooting for them with all of Pittsburgh,” the diocese said in a statement. “But we also need to hold to the priority importance of Good Friday.”
“It is an essential part of the most sacred time of year for all Christians. Nothing should take precedence,” it said.
Catholic Pirate fans will have to avoid hot dogs, sausages, and chicken fingers, sticking to other fan favorites, including Cracker Jacks and peanuts, but not every Catholic Pirate fan intends to comply with the church.
“Being a Pirates fan my whole life has been sacrifice enough. I’m eating a hot dog at the ballpark Friday,” one baseball fan wrote in response.
At least eight teams, including the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, are slated to have home openers Friday.
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Catholic dioceses in those areas have echoed the Pittsburgh diocese’s sentiment.
The Diocese of Brooklyn and the Archdiocese of San Francisco have both told their faithful that no exception to the no-meat rule will be handed down on Opening Day.
