Bishops in England and Wales ask Catholics to avoid meat on Fridays, reviving the church’s tradition of fasting as an act of penance.

They say that the practice of voluntary abstinence will help provide a greater sense of “Catholic identity” and will help people bring faith into their daily lives.

Father Marcus Stock, general secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said that members of the church want to “deepen and give identity to the spiritual aspects of their lives”.

Eating fish on Fridays has long been considered a Catholic tradition. But a statement from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales says while fish is permitted on Fridays, it is not the required substitute for meat.

If avoiding meat is not a considerable sacrifice, Catholics are instead asked to avoid something else that would be more of a personal penance.

Those under 14 years of age, the sick and the elderly are not required to follow the bishops’ guidance if their health is affected.

Today was chosen to announce the decision because it is the first anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s official visit to Britain.

Canon law

Friday is already set aside as a day of penitence in the Catholic Church, as the day which Christ is thought to have died.

But since 1985, Catholics have been allowed to practice another act of penance as a substitute for avoiding meat.

Canon law says that penance, which takes the form of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, is a necessary part of Christian life.