Eating Pork: A Sin For Catholics?

The consumption of pork is a contentious issue among various religious groups, with Muslims and Jews notably abstaining from eating pork. But what about Catholics? The Old Testament stated that pigs are unclean and therefore forbidden to eat, but Jesus abolished Mosaic Law in the New Testament, declaring all foods clean. This has led to the Catholic belief that eating pork is not a sin, except when abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and other mandatory fasting days.

Jesus declared all foods clean

In Mark 7:19, Jesus declared all foods clean:

> "It doesn't go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

Jesus' statement abolished the Mosaic Law, which prohibited the consumption of pork in the Old Testament. The Mosaic Law was a set of religious laws that governed the lives of Jews, including dietary restrictions.

Jesus' declaration was reaffirmed by St. Peter's vision:

> "The next day, while they were on their way and nearing the city, Peter went up to the roof terrace to pray at about noontime. He was hungry and wished to eat, and while they were making preparations he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something resembling a large sheet coming down, lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all the earth's four-legged animals and reptiles and the birds of the sky. A voice said to him, 'Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.' But Peter said, 'Certainly not, sir. For never have I eaten anything profane and unclean.' The voice spoke to him again, a second time, 'What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.'

This declaration was further supported by St. Paul in his letters:

> "Let no one, then, pass judgment on you in matters of food and drink or with regard to a festival or new moon or sabbath."

> "Eat anything sold in the market, without raising questions on grounds of conscience."

Therefore, eating pork is generally not considered a sin for Catholics. However, it can be a sin if one intentionally consumes it on days of abstinence, such as Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, as it would be an act of disobedience against the Church's authority.

Pork is unclean according to the Old Testament

The Old Testament, specifically Leviticus 11:7, states that the pig, though it "divides the hoof"

Eating pork can be a sin on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

Eating pork is not considered a sin for Catholics, as Jesus declared in the New Testament that all foods are clean. However, there is an exception to this rule. Eating pork can be a sin if a Catholic deliberately consumes it on specific days of penance, such as Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, as well as Fridays during Lent.

Canon 1251 states:

> "Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday."

The act of abstaining from meat on these days is rooted in the belief that Jesus sacrificed his flesh for humanity on Good Friday. By refraining from eating flesh meat, which includes pork, Catholics honour Jesus's sacrifice. Abstaining from meat is also seen as a form of penance, expressing sorrow for wrongdoing and a desire to turn back to God.

It is important to note that the sin associated with eating pork on these specific days is not because the consumption of pork is inherently evil. Instead, the sin lies in the disobedience against the Church and its authority. Catholics who intentionally break this precept commit an offence against God, as they are going against the power given to Peter and his papal successors by Jesus.

While Catholics have the freedom to eat whatever they choose, they are encouraged to practise self-control and be mindful that overindulgence may not be beneficial for their well-being.

The Mosaic Law prohibited eating pork

The Mosaic Law, which governed the Israelites, prohibited the consumption of pork. The book of Leviticus contains a prohibition against eating pork:

> “And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are unclean to you.” — Leviticus 11:7-8

The Mosaic Law also prohibited the Israelites from eating any meat that was not prepared in a specific way. This included cooking techniques that would not be considered safe by modern standards, such as eating raw or undercooked meat.

The prohibition on eating pork was part of a covenant between God and Israel. It was meant to express a strong internal faith in God and a healthy fear of Him. It also served to distinguish the Israelites from their pagan neighbours, setting them apart as a chosen people.

The Mosaic Law was abolished by Jesus in the New Testament, as expressed in the following biblical passage:

> “It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.”

This declaration has made all foods, including pork, clean for Christians to consume.

The Bible says man did not eat meat before the flood

The Bible does not explicitly state whether man ate meat before the flood. However, there are several arguments that support the idea that he did not. Firstly, in Genesis 1:29-30, God tells Adam that he can eat every plant yielding seed and every tree with seed-bearing fruit, but does not mention meat as something that Adam can eat. This suggests that Adam and Eve were vegetarians in the Garden of Eden.

Another argument is that Abel's sacrifice of animals may have been the first instance of meat consumption by man. However, it is important to note that not all animal sacrifices in the Bible were meant to be eaten; some were burned as whole offerings. Furthermore, the fact that animal sacrifices were made before the flood does not necessarily mean that the meat was consumed.

Additionally, some argue that the command for humans to have dominion over animals (Genesis 9:1-4) is not a permission to eat meat, but rather a renewal of the original lordship command given to Adam. This interpretation suggests that the fear and dread of animals towards humans after the flood (Genesis 9:2) is not because they were being hunted for food, but because humans now had a greater degree of power over them.

However, there is also evidence to suggest that man did eat meat before the flood. For example, Abel's sacrifice may have been accompanied by a meal, as was often the case in the Old Testament. Furthermore, the fact that God sacrificed an animal after the Fall (Genesis 3:21) and that Abel's sacrifice included the fat portions (Genesis 4:4) which were typically eaten, suggests that meat consumption may have occurred before the flood.

In conclusion, while there is no definitive answer in the Bible, it is likely that man did eat meat before the flood, given the presence of animal sacrifices and the fact that meat consumption was a common part of sacrifices and meals in the Old Testament.

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