Jesus ate meat (Lk 22:8) and fish (Lk 24:41-43). He said that we can consider all food clean and good for consumption (Mk 7:15-19). However, moderation in eating animals is part of the Christian tradition. Christians often abstain from meat on Friday, and some ancient monastic orders follow a mainly vegetarian diet. It also is an expression of solidarity, for the production of meat requires many resources that could feed people in need instead.
Even today, animals are sacrificed for our wellbeing, to feed us, clothe us, or serve us in other ways. The animal sacrifices in the Bible show us how terrible sin is, because it separates us from God. The Old Testament viewed these sacrifices as a way to atone for the sins of people. Jesus sacrificed his own life once and for all, so that no animal sacrifices are needed to be reconciled with God today (Heb 10:14-18).
