Northeast Iowa Catholics can eat meat on St. Patrick's Day 2017

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The Archbishop of Dubuque said it's OK to have meat this St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is a big deal for Kathy Ginter, owner of the restaurant West Dubuque Tap.

"We're preparing for St. Patrick's Day, corned beef and cabbage, and all the fixings with green beer," she said.

But since St. Patrick's day falls on a Friday this year, Archbishop Michael Jackels says it's okay for Catholics within the Archdiocese of Dubuque to eat meat.

"I think it's awesome, I'm Irish and I'm Catholic and I think it's great that he's dispensating everybody so we can eat corned beef," said Ginter.

I wonder if he was asked to do this or if he had decided on his own to issue a dispensation.