Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI will issue a papal edict this morning waiving Fast and Abstinence status for Good Friday so that billions of Catholic basketball fans can fully enjoy the NCAA tournament, eating hotdogs and drinking beer, without violating their conscience. A Vatican spokesman was adamant this would be the only concession the Church would make for the tournament. All other restrictions remain in place. “The decision by the Holy Father does not diminish the sacrifice that Good Friday celebrates,” said the spokesman, “but should be seen as recognition of the genuine suffering observant Catholics who also love the game of basketball would endure should they be denied the right to watch their favorite team while gorging themselves with meat products and drinking heavily in The Big Dance.”
The Vatican said the Pope's action, while rare, is not without precedent. Similarly, in 1939, Pope Pius XII removed Holy Day of Obligation status for moviegoers attending the premiere of “Gone With The Wind.” The film opened on the Feast of the Assumption.
Pope Benedict’s love of basketball is well-known. For years, he ran the College of Cardinals NCAA Men ’s Tournament poll. He’s also the captain of his team – the Papal Bulls – in the Vatican Rec-League over-seventy division.
A request to review a copy of the Pope’s brackets by a writer for this website remains unanswered.
