No, I don’t think there was a backdoor agreement between the fishermen and the bishops over the whole fish on Friday thing.

Since about the second century of Christianity, Christians abstained from meat on Friday as a kind of sacrifice and reminder that acknowledged Jesus’ supreme sacrifice on the Cross on Good Friday. About a century or two later, Lent came into being, as a season of intense preparation for Easter (eventually it took on a more penitential flavor, asking folks to get their act together for Easter), so the fasting and abstinence was extended to much of Lent.

When the Second Vatican Council met in the 1960’s, they were trying to simplify Catholic customs and laws–they had become onerous, complicated, and a bit oppressive in terms of the emphasis on sin and sacrifice. Before this happened, many people believed (and even a Pope or two had talked about) breaking Friday abstinence as a sin so serious it could land you in hell. They knew the whole thing had gotten out of hand.

So the bishops gathered in solemn council in the 60’s decided to preserve the fasting custom (which means only one meal a day) but restrict it only to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday while retaining the old Friday abstinence law only during the more penitential time of Lent. You could say it was a kind of Catholic “lightening up.” Although, some people argue (and maybe they are right) that now it’s almost too easy (everybody needs a challenge, especially a spiritual one!).

Hope this is helpful.

The fishermen story would have been interesting though.

Father Brett Hoover
[Father Brett Hoover, CSP answered this question for Fr. Joe]