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I think you are right about the many responses that can be made to this post. I would like to make just one. In February of the year 1966, Pope Paul VI promulgated an Apostolic Constitution (17 Feb. 1966) entitled Paenitemini in which he said that the law of the Church still says to abstain from meat on every Friday throughout the year.
However, he gave permission to go against the letter of the law if the conference of bishops of a particular country petitioned the Holy See, the Pope, for permission for their people to do another penance on Friday in place of not eating meat. So, in those countries whose bishops have gone through the channels to petition the Pope for permission to substitute another penance instead of not eating meat on Friday, those individuals in those countries can substitute another penance.
But what you have not been told, and no one seems to know, is that you still have the obligation to do another penance on that Friday and you are still bound under pain of mortal sin.

But what you have not been told, and no one seems to know, is that you still have the obligation to do another penance on that Friday and you are still bound under pain of mortal sin.

An excellent point! And you are absolutely right. This message has been lost to many catholics over the years. Recently, another freeper brought this to our attention. Self-denial is good for the body, while penance works "miracles" on the soul As Dusty Rose noted, "Perhaps it would be a good idea for many of us to eat fish once a week, for our physical as well as our spiritual health."

Ever since Hermann the Cherusker brought this to our attention, I have switched back to meatless Fridays. This can't be right 'cause it actually feels good. Let's get the word out .... Vatican Council II sought a greater participation by the laity. "Start spreading the new!"

But what you have not been told, and no one seems to know, is that you still have the obligation to do another penance on that Friday and you are still bound under pain of mortal sin.

If only this were true, but alas, it is not. The new code of canon law merely "recommends" some other form of penance in place of abstaining from meat. Nor does it make any penance mandatory, much less under pain of mortal sin.

Code of Canon Law
IntraText CT - Text

BOOK IV : THE SANCTIFYING OFFICE OF THE CHURCH (Cann. 834 – 848)
PART III : SACRED PLACES AND TIMES
TITLE II: SACRED TIMES (Cann. 1244 - 1258)
CHAPTER II : DAYS OF PENANCE
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CHAPTER II : DAYS OF PENANCE

Can. 1249 All Christ's faithful are obliged by divine law, each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all may be joined together in a certain common practice of penance, days of penance are prescribed. On these days the faithful are in a special manner to devote themselves to prayer, to engage in works of piety and charity, and to deny themselves, by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the fast and abstinence which the following canons prescribe.

Can. 1250 The days and times of penance for the universal Church are each Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can. 1251 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.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Can. 1253 The Episcopal Conference can determine more particular ways in which fasting and abstinence are to be observed. In place of abstinence or fasting it can substitute, in whole or in part, other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.