[antibasilisk]

For any given law there may be a preceding reason, but that reasoning is ultimately derived from some kind of base morality, hence my use of the term 'expressions'.

>One answer is that these dietary and clothing restrictions exist as a discipline that perfects its practitioners spiritually.

And what is the need to perfect oneself spiritually?

>Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays not because it is intrinsically immoral to eat meat on Fridays, but because canon law includes this restriction as an act of penance that is binding on all Catholics.

Penance is described by catholics as 'good', which is a moral judgement.

>We sacrifice lower goods for higher goods.

Right, but trading a lower good for a higher good is still an expression of morality, you're just preferring the greater good of the two.