There are several slurs that have been used against Catholics in history. Papist. Romish. Jesuitical. My favorite is Papicolist. A lesser known anti-Catholic slur is “Mackerel Snapper” which was popular in the mid 1800s.

In America, Catholics were the minority and they were known by their refusal to eat meat on Fridays in honor of Christ sacrificing his flesh on Friday for our sins. Protestant perceived this as odd and a defining feature of the Catholics they befriended and dined with. Catholics ate fish on Fridays, a popular variety being mackerel (mackerel is rich in omega 3’s, by the way). Hence, we Catholics were called “Mackerel Snappers!”

Well on Fridays in Lent, Catholics are still obligated by canon law to abstain from flesh meats (beef, poultry, pork, etc.) unless their local conference of bishops alters or dispenses of the practice. I’ve discussed the theological reasons for this in another post: Please read “Why is Fish Okay But Not Meat.”