Church

Animal Welfare and The Church

by Christine Gutleben

Recently, at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission office of the Southern Baptist Convention in Washington, D.C., Christian leaders met with The Humane Society of the United States to discuss how to enlist Southern Baptists in the campaign against cockfighting.

Cockfighting pits roosters against each other in fights to the death while spectators bet. Several states have weak laws against cockfighting and are magnets for the bloodsport, which can attract thousands of people and have purses in the tens of thousands of dollars. Creating stricter penalties is an obvious answer, of course, but anti-cockfighting bills are repeatedly bottled up by legislators who give in to the pressure of this network of cockfighting profiteers. This year, a lobbyist hired to represent a cockfighting front group in Alabama was none other than Ken Guin, former Alabama House Majority leader.

Facing such political challenges, my colleague, John Goodwin, and I were pleased to attend the meeting in Washington with Barrett Duke, Ph.D., vice president of public policy for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; and Oran Smith, president of the Palmetto Family Council in South Carolina. PFC is an affiliate of Focus on the Family and publisher of the booklet, Dominion and Stewardship: A Biblical View of Animals. Both Duke and Smith see cockfighting as cruel and morally wrong, and both want to end the practice.

Christians Care about Animals

Cockfighting is just one of the many issues The HSUS addresses in order to reduce suffering and improve the lives of all animals, from wildlife to companion animals to farm animals. But our meeting with Duke and Smith illustrates what we find over and over again: Christians—including conservatives, evangelicals, Protestants and Catholics—overwhelmingly care about animals.

In two separate studies commissioned by The HSUS, Barna Group—a leading research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture—found that 77 percent of Christians believe that animals deserve humane treatment; nearly 80 percent believe that confining animals in cages and crates on factory farms is cruel; and 80 percent of evangelical parishioners are interested in what the Bible says about animals.

What is more, we find that religious leaders and communities across the United States are developing ministries and programs to help animals and the people who love them. Two years ago, I came upon Church of the King in Mandeville, La. The non-denominational mega-church was offering free pet exams and vaccines along with medical and dental services for low-income community members. The longest lines were those to see the volunteer veterinarian, John Mauterer, D.V.M. People waited several hours in the summer heat to get their pets vaccinated.

Executive Pastor Randy Craighead commented, “For some people, their pets are all they have, and seeing the animals receive treatment means everything to them…Indeed, when we care for animals, we care for people. When we dismiss or ignore animals, we miss a significant aspect of what it means to be human.”

McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Va., the largest church in the Washington, D.C. metro area, has an animal therapy program, Paws4Hearts, which brings animals to visit the sick and elderly. The church’s description of the program emphasizes a core belief: “People and animals matter to God.”

The Rock Church in San Diego, Calif. has a Dog Lovers Ministry “to help dogs in need.” Dorchester Presbyterian Church in Summerville, S.C., has a 42-acre wildlife sanctuary and Pastor Dorothy Taylor Blackwelder believes that the outdoor space allows people “… to be reminded of God’s awesome power and creativity in creation.”

The list of animal ministries across the country goes on, including Trinity Episcopal Church in Bethlehem, Pa., which encourages humane food choices at all congregational meals and collects pet food during traditional food drives to donate to local shelters.

Animal Protection Ministries

In response to this growing area of ministry, The HSUS recently published Animal Protection Ministries: A Guide for Churches and is developing an online database of churches that include animals in their ministry efforts.

While animal ministries are spreading, the subject is yet to be universally addressed from the pulpit. We learned from Barna Group that in the last two years 31 percent of evangelical pastors and 37 percent of all pastors have preached on the subject of creation, including animals.

Still, there is a growing awareness that how we treat animals is a measure of our own humanity—that violence inflicted on animals is inexorably linked to human-against-human violence, that compassion is a big enough idea to encompass animals as well as humans.

“That animals have worth and dignity,” writes Ted Olson, managing editor of news and online journalism for Christianity Today, is “something plainly assumed in Biblical passages like Exodus 21-22:14 and Deuteronomy 25, which outline upright ways to handle livestock, and Proverbs 12:10, which praises the righteous man who ‘cares for the needs of his animal.’"

It seems the growing prevalence of animal ministries is also a sign that the issue is acknowledged by church communities and that pastors support ways their congregation can reduce animal suffering and involve animals in the life of the church.

Partnerships for the Future

In the months ahead, The HSUS will host a second annual summit meeting of religious leaders. This year religious authors and scholars, mega-church pastors, CEOs of faith-based companies and executives of national faith-based organizations will join us in Washington, D.C. We will discuss numerous issues, from factory farming to species extinction to cockfighting, and will reflect on our call to proper dominion and care for God’s creation.

This gathering of major faith leaders and animal advocates is the kind of coming-together that is necessary to combat animal abuse on a national scale. It is also a reflection of mainstream religious values and the kind of partnership initiative we will certainly see more of in the future.

How do you see your faith affecting the way you care for animals?
Does your church have animal ministries?

Editor's Note: The image above was taken by Gregory Perez.

Comments

Carl Becker

I’m glad to see the issue of animal welfare is being addressed by Christian leaders. I have often wondered what the church might say about factory farming and why it has remained more or less silent on the issue. Thanks for recognizing this important cause.

Candace Gutleben

As I watched the blessing of the animals service unfold in the garden of my church Sunday morning, I thought I caught a tiny glimpse of the Garden of Eden. All ages, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds came forward with their companion animals - chickens, roosters, cage birds, iguanas and of course, dogs. They shared stories of how the animals had gone to nursing homes, walked with Alzheimer's patients, calmed frightened children and offered unconditional love to people living alone. Many mentioned "rescuing" the animal, but as I listened, what I really heard everyone saying was not what they had given to their animal, but how the animal had ministered to them. We don't have an "animal ministry" so much as we have animals who minister to us.

Tim S.

Sad to see such a great web sight print such non-sense. Christine, have you even done any research as to what the Humane Society believes or preaches? This groups theology is Anti-Bible. They spew nonsense that is direct opposite of the Bible and people like you make them sound like all they do is feed kittens milk all day. I guess your next letter on this site will be that the Humane Society has asked all Christians to stand against hunting, fishing and all College mascots. Sound funny? They already are against these. So please do us a favor as God fearing people. Show both sides and take a stand for what is right. Dont hide who people are just to show one small area. Example: Cock fighting. You dont have to be a Christian to know that this is wrong. The Humane Society is using you and the Southern Baptist to spew there rediculous views. What they believe is opposite of what God says. You Christine should be ashamed of yourself, people who love this web sight are. I guess you probably believe that when animals die they go to heaven?

John Doppler Schiff

Tim, I suggest you look at your own words and actions before judging others.

It is not the HSUS' message of compassion and kindness that runs counter to the teachings of the Bible, it is the hateful, vicious, and thoughtlessly cruel comments you are spewing here today.

Thank you, Christine, for your eye-opening article. Those who would torment animals for entertainment are deeply and fundamentally wrong in mind and spirit... and I'm saddened that anyone would attack a message of compassion like the one you have offered here today.

Ilda

are you serious Tim? you are probably a hunter, killing innocent animals and calling it a sport. You are the one that should be ashamed of yourself for what you wrote. not Christine. Grow a heart Tim.

Carol Nothern

I love all creatures domestic and wild, and the thought of abusing them is abhorent to me. In my morning prayers I frequently thank our Father for creating them.

I was reared on a ranch in a fundamentalist religion. My Dad went deer hunting every fall, and we raised rabbits to eat. That is until one day we didn't any more because Dad said he could not bear to knock them on the head to kill them. Then eventually he quit deer hunting. He said he could no longer raise his rifle to end the life of such a magestic animal.

Cruelty to animals is not consistent with the loving spirit Jesus and Apostle Paul said we are to have.

Vanessa

The Bible commands us to have college mascots? Need to brush up on the Second Commandment, Tim S.

In fact, brush up on the Bible, in general. Nowhere in the Bible does God exhort us to treat animals with anything other than respect and dignity. Animals are among the most wonderful of God's creations and gifts to us. And they should be treated accordingly.

Also, HSUS is not a religious organization. As such, they do not have a "theology". Of any kind.

Clearly, you're not familiar with the term, "Christian compassion". People like you give true Christians a bad name. Before you spew your nonsense, know thy target.

Naila M Sanchez

Tim S.... You are so wrong and I sense your anger is misguided... God asks us to take care of His animals... to be kind and respectful of them. The Humane Society is TOTALLY against creulty in any form! They are not a religion so they do not have a "theology"! They work tirelessly for the betterment of animals everywhere.... Please lighten up and know the truth that God gives to us. The Humane Society tries diligently to help... and they do! Animals are helped with organizations like the Humane Society, working every day on the behalf of animals.... and I love them for it!!

Diana C.

It doesn't take a theological scholar to know that animals go to heaven. It is simply God's will toward those He loves. Animals are God's innocents, who do exactly what he intended them to do. They are without sin. More pure than even angels, yet left here on earth to be our friends. God created them and He loves them. People are the problem, never the animal. It is the hope of my heart that more people will become as children and love the animals.

Tim S.

Wow, thanks guys for all of the comments. First, when animals die they go to heaven? not true. I think animals will be in heaven, but not go to heaven. I am a hunter and fisherman. I kill animals and eat them. Does that make me a cruel person. And I do have a heart, its for people who are lost without Christ. I think you can look at all of these post and completely understand what I am saying. I do not believe in treating animals with any kind of cruely. They were put here on earth for man. I have a question for all of you. Have you read the Old Testament? God clearly shows an animals place here on earth. I hope Gabe you are reading this and seeing what slant this web sight is taking. Its an example of taking your eyes of the truth and putting them on something so silly as thinking animals have a soul or go to heaven. Again if you people truly believe what the HS says and believes it then I truly feel sorry for you.

Jason E. Summers

Tim,

I think your points are less historically informed than you believe. Animal Welfare organizations, including HSUS, have their origins in evangelicalism in England and, later, the US. In fact, the current president of HSUS is the first who is not also a ordained minister.

The notion that parts of God's creation deserve care is historically tied to ethical arguments that are either Christian in practice (Aquinas) or inspiration (Kant). Today these ideas find most appropriate grounding not in the utilitarianism of Singer, but in an ethics of character or virtue as espoused largely by Christians. I'd recommend Wennberg's God, Humans, and Animals as a good introduction to this body of thought.

Concern for animal welfare does not in any way preclude using animals for food. It does preclude abusing them. My understanding of HSUS's position is they seek to address abuse in many areas but are not, e.g., against all hunting or fishing. I see no conflict in avoiding cruelly raised meat, while also fishing on occasion---I do just that.

js

Tim S.

Thank you js, seems you put it together much better than myself. The problem I have is that a large number of "Christians" have the view that Daina C. has. Can you see my point. The Humane society wants to ban hunting and fishing. Those who think hunting an animal for meat is cruel are just way off base. I am a pet owner. I love animals. But a thinking person has to put this in its proper perspective. Let me give you a qoute from the Humane society. "We do not think of animals in the wild as "meat". but rather feeling beings who deserve to , and desire to , live out their lives" Another qoute, "We have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding."-Pacelle. This is what the leadership of the HS believes. They advertise with feel good songs and horrible images of animals that make even me sick. But the truth is these people contradict the Bible. Isnt this the first thing this web-site should be standing up for. I do not want to point fingers and start name calling. The Humane society has an agenda and they play off of nice, caring people who think they are doing the right thing. You are one or the other, you cant be both. If penned chickens is cruel then a net full of fish to make canned tuna is cruel as well, See the problem,,,

Sarah

Hi Tim,

I actually work at the HSUS, and would like to correct some of the misinformation you include in your post. We at HSUS focus on the most egregious forms of wildlife abuse, such as canned and internet hunting, poaching, live pigeon shoots etc. I haven't heard the first quote you mention, but with regards to the second one, it's from long before Wayne was head of HSUS, back in 92. or 93.' He was asked at an agricultural forum Q & A whether there should be an attempt to preserve all breeds of exotic livestock, specifically "heirloom breeds" (older breed variations that are often not used any longer for a commercial purpose and whose continued survival as a breed may be in jeopardy) and their value to agriculture. In short, he was saying that we did not need an endangered species act for rare livestock breeds.

I hope you'll take a moment to learn about our work, and what we are really about: http://www.humanesociety.org/about/

Tim S.

Thank you Sarah for taking the time to email. Was I wrong in stating that HSUS is against hunting, fishing. Your organization is not against Bear hunting? So if I shoot an animal with a gun or bow and then eat it, all is ok. If that is true then I owe HSUS a big apology. As for the last qoute, I dont see that in his qoute. Matter of fact it states exactly what he said. Wayne has stated that animal life is equal to human life. Do you believe that? Thanks for the dialogue. Tim

Jason E. Summers

Tim,

I'm glad to see Sarah has commented here. I googled those quotes you mentioned and they seemed either to be old or in need of context. I don't know Wayne's views in any detail, though what I've heard him say suggests he welcomes a broad constituency to gather around common issues. Whether he personally favors greater moral status for animals seems to me neither here nor there.

In response to your comments, I think it is dangerous and misguided to (1) equate personal views of a leader with organizational views; e.g., my statements here are not those of my company, even though I am the top executive, the same holds for my wife and her organization (2) make slippery-slope moral arguments; the logical conclusion of something is not the most extreme version of an action.

As an example of a slippery-slope argument, you say "if penned chickens is cruel then a net full of fish to make canned tuna is cruel as well." I see what you are saying: if we limit some forms of animal killing for food, we might try to limit all animal killing for food. Most of my ethical thinking is about war, so I'll use an example from that of why slippery-slope arguments are wrong. We limit conduct in war according to jus in bello: people can't commit war crimes like killing civilians or torturing prisoners. But just because we limit the kinds of aggression that are permissible does not mean we are on the road to pacifism. In fact, the same Church Fathers that began the tradition of just war would have argued that a doctrine of universal pacifism (everyone, not just a select few with vocational calling to it) is heresy. Limiting things for a moral purpose is necessary and not tantamount to elimination of that thing.

For that reason I think there are legitimate reasons to limit some hunting while allowing others. Primate hunting is not really necessary and less justified than fishing, for example, even if people eat so-called "bush meat." In fact, bush meat is illegal. I think deer hunting is probably fine if done for food and in a humane manner. It controls the population and serves a cultural good too. Of course, just like in just war, one has ethical demands applied to the activity. People have a demand to limit suffering for the animal. Therefore they have an obligation to practice on targets to ensure reasonable probability of minimal suffering for the animal and to fire only when sure of their aim.

With respect to Wayne's quote that animals are "feeling beings who deserve to, and desire to, live out their lives." I see no problem. Animals have a certain moral status. I and many others think that status is different for different animals (insects have less than mammals). My dog, for example, is a feeling being who derives pleasure from living and that affords her certain moral status. She does not, however, have, nor have the potential to have, full self-awareness and intersubjectivity reflective of imago dei, and therefore doesn't have the same moral status as a person (or a person who by virtue of birth or accident does not have or can never obtain those qualities).

In the second quote, I don't see at all how the statement, "we have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding," in any way suggests "animal life is equal to human life." It does have a certain "originalist" sort of a moral argument to it that I might not totally agree with (I think the transformation of the world by people can be part of the structural nature of the good creation and therefore is not somehow inferior to the "natural" state of the original creation). Even so, I agree with the basic notion that we have less moral obligation to protect, e.g., labradoodles from extinction than manatees, though individual animals of each both deserve the same or similar standards of care.

js

Tim S.

Jason, thank you for the response I enjoyed reading your perspective. At first I wrote two paragraphs explaining my view about this. I have decided not to. Jason, the truth is HS knows that they have a large base of supporters who believe that animals are equal to human beings which is false. People who support HS should be made aware of this. I appreciate different views on this even though I am strongly against some. HS was portayed as a something different than they are. I just wanted the truth to be known. The majority of HS supporters are much more radical than their web-site portrays them to be and they feed off of that. I also believe a slippery slope argument is made when someone says that animals have the same right to life as human beings. Thanks again Jason for taking the time to respond.

Christine Gutleben

Hi Tim,

If you are interested in learning more about The Humane Society of the United States from a firsthand perspective, I hope you will email me at cgutleben@humanesociety.org.

Sincerely,

Christine

Christine Gutleben

Thanks to each of you for responding to this piece. And Jason, thank you for taking the time to thoughtfully address some of Tim’s concerns.

Tim, I do hope you will email me. In the meantime, I will attempt to address some of the issues you raise.

1. Hunting and fishing: The HSUS works to end the worst abuses in hunting and to maintain longstanding protections for animals where they already exist. Worst abuses include poaching, fox pens, captive hunts, contest kills, bear baiting and more. You can read about each of these issues and HSUS involvement here: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/campaigns/wildlife_abuse/

2. Bear hunting: U.S. hunters shoot about 33,000 bears each year and poachers kill thousands more. The HSUS has taken action against bear baiting and spring hunts which allow orphan cubs to die slowly. You can read more about our positions on bear hunting here: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/bear_hunting/

3. Cockfighting is one issue among many: The HSUS works on a variety of issues from wildlife abuse (listed above) to factory farming (http://www.humanesociety.org/about/departments/faith/tips/eating_mercifully_resources.html), puppymills (http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/campaigns/stop_puppy_mills/), spay/neuter awareness (http://www.humanesociety.org/about/departments/companion_animals.html) and many more. During our presentation at the Q conference in April, we showed a portion of our film, Eating Mercifully, which looks at factory farming from several Christian perspectives.

As opposed to the issues above which involve HSUS positions, the issues you raise below are theological in nature. The HSUS website features the work of religious scholars and authors to address these issues.

4. The value of animal life and human life: Matthew Scully: “A dog is not the moral equal of a human being, but a dog is definitely the moral equal of a pig, and it's only human caprice and economic convenience that say otherwise. We have the problem that these essentially similar creatures are treated in dramatically different ways, unjustified even by the very protections from cruelty, while the nameless creatures in our factory farms are hardly treated like animals at all. “ You can read more from our website here: http://www.humanesociety.org/about/departments/faith/religious_case_compassio.html

5. Animal rights: Matthew Scully: “Animals are more than ever a test of our character, of mankind’s capacity for empathy and for decent, honorable conduct and faithful stewardship. We are called to treat them with kindness, not because they have rights or power or some claim to equality, but in a sense because they don’t, because they all stand unequal and powerless before us.”

6. Animals in heaven: Dr. Jerry Root, a premiere C.S. Lewis scholar from Wheaton College unpacks Lewis’ writings on the question of whether animals go to heaven in this document here: http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/faith/cs_lewis_advocate_animals_gerald_root.pdf

I sincerely look forward to speaking with you -- Christine

Tim S.

Where do I start? You cannot maintain that hunting and fishing are Ok by the HS and still believe that an animal has rights. These two arguments are contrary to each other. The bible teaches to treat animals with respect. Nowhere does it say anything about the rights of animals. Anything else is pure speculation but not biblical. I believe there are animals in heaven. I dont believe animals die and go to heaven. Again, you are missing the point. Fact is, The HS does not use common sense and you prey off the idealistic attitudes of your members. I am well aware of your web-site and what you say in public and what you believe and try to push in private. The arguments of HS in the end stand against the principals of God. I know this is my opinion, but I firmly believe this. You will not find any mention of animal rights in the bible. This is a human belief. What the HS stands for actually cheapens human life. The souls of men and woman who die without Jesus Christ should be our aim. The HS clouds these arguments purposely. Again, I call on this web-site to right the ship and dis-allow this kind of nonsense. HS will never see the truth because you guys dont want to believe what the Bible really says about them. You take what you want, you take what closely mirrors what you beleive, Not what actually is the truth.

Tim S.

Christine, I would like to ask you a question, one in which I hope you respond here, not behind the scenes through an email. You dont believe in pens,, for example: chickens or even pigs to be used for food. But you do believe in free roaming cows and chickens who are used for food. As long as they live a "good" life before they are killed and eaten that is ok with you? Please dont give me the standard HS answer, Yes or no. if your answer is no then HS is being dishonest. Let me get this straight, the HS thinks it is ok to eat meat as long as they lived a good descent life before they were killed and eaten. Your web-site even says cows develop freindships with the other cows. Again, you put animals on the same plane as human beings, and in doing so cheapens human life. The whole basis of the HS is faulty.

Christine Gutleben

Hi Tim,

As I said in my earlier post, I believe we are called to treat animals with kindness because they do not have rights. The issue is really about us, not them.

To answer your second question, I believe that cramming farm animals in cages and crates so small they can’t engage in basic movements is wrong and I support efforts to purchase products from more humane systems.

Arthur Saylor

Tim,

I am developing a set of focus group questions for my marketing class and would be curious how you (or anyone else reading this blog) would respond to the following. Christine, I would appreciate any help your or any of your staff might have on developing these questions. You are free to be brief or may state any assumptions you made as this will help me further refine the questions:

1) Would you prefer to eat (a) grain fed steer which was routinely administered antibiotics to fend off infection, or (b) grass fed steer that was never fed antibiotics?

2) Would you prefer to eat Salmon that was (a) caught in a river, or (b) raised in a pond?

3) Would you prefer that your dog spent 8 daylight hours alone in (a) cage the size of a console television, or (b) your fenced backyard?

4) Would you prefer to eat eggs from a hen that (a) lives in an enclosed environment with such strong ammonia smell that humans have to wear a gas mask to enter, or (b) lives outdoors in a somewhat small but covered coop?

5) Do you believe government subsidies which benefit the meat/dairy/egg industries should be (a) increased, or (b) decreased?

6) Do you think our population would be healthier if the population ate (a) more, or (b) less animal products?

7) Do you think our populations healthcare and insurance costs would in general (a) decrease, or (b) increase if the cost of animal based foods increased and more plant based foods were consumed?

8) Do you think fat cells deposited in our bodies (a) need to be fed calories, or (b) are stored deposits and do not need to be fed?

9) Please state how any religious beliefs influenced your answers for any of the above questions.

I appreciate your perspective and time spent answering these questions.

Arthur

Tim S.

Thank you again Christine. Arthur, I would need to know more info. Who and what are you affiliated with, for what class and for what reason. Good questions though!. Christine, although we dont agree, I hope you can understand my view on some of these issues. I for one do not believe in being cruel or torture of an animal. I guess the difference we might have is the how we define torture. Now dont get me wrong I think we might be more alike then not. I respect you for what you believe. I hope you do the same for me. I just try to squell the fringe on this matter. Is is similar to Christians who wear a billboard that says "Gays are going to hell". Although the motive might be "right" the method is totally against the very things we stand up for as Christians. All have the fringe, it is mine and your responsibilty, I think, to try and keep them in check. If we truly believe in what we are saying. I just dont believe in half truths, like I dont believe in half lies.

Christine Gutleben

Arthur: I appreciate your effort to look deeper into our choices that involve animals. I would be happy to help you refine your study.

Tim: Thank you for providing an opportunity for dialogue. I hope you will reach out at some point.

And to everyone else who commented on this blog: Thank you! Please do not hesitate to be in touch. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you. cgutleben@humanesociety.org

I think it is important that we note that questions about animal welfare are often veiled questions about urban and rural life. A person who has only known animals as companions will clearly see them in a different way than a person who has interacted with them on a farm. So the American move to the city, is changing our society's understanding of the value of animals.

It is helpful to hold in tension three Biblical passages: Jonah 4:11, Ecc 3:21, and Acts 10:13-15

In the first God defends to Jonah his choice to have mercy on Ninevah. He mentions the children and animals that live in Ninevah as part of that defense. So clearly, God deems the animals worth defending.

The second reference I'll quote directly: "Who knows . . . if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?" I figure if Solomon, or whoever wrote Ecclesiastes, didn't know the answer to the question of animal souls, we probably don't either.

In the last passage God tells Peter to "kill and eat." Peter is resistant and God is insistent. In Genesis we also see God specifically giving Noah permission to eat animals.

Based on these passages, I would suggest that we Christians should resist cruelty, refrain from declarations about the ultimate destiny of animals, and freely eat meat that is obtained without cruelty.

Stephen M. Vantassel

Tim S.

Don't despair. Biblically grounded Christians are finally getting educated to the animal rights (under the guise of animal welfare) ideology that is infecting the church.

Do a quick search on my name and you will notice that my published work takes the ideas of the HSUS and its cohorts to task on multiple levels.

I'm still waiting to hear about why Christ didn't rescue the pigs that were demonized and drowned in the Sea of Galilee. Was his resurrection powers too weak that day?

Clare Forjan

The hsus directed me to this site. We needs to unite all factions of the religious community regarding the brutality and ambivalence towards the animals God expects us to steward,going as far back as Adam, thease sentient beings are gifts from God almighty . We must treat them humanely and without torturous deaths, give God and their very being thanks for to nourishment our bodys comsume for nourishment. If we can not even let them have a moment of the abundant gifts that the Lord has given us on Earth. To feel the sun on their backs. A fraction of a piece of sand that God expects from us. We have become hard hearted . Because of the currency for their flesh.

Now the evil one uses the beast to feed mans bloodlust in forms entertainment, gambling, if you have not seen the horrors of cockfighting,dogs pitted at each other to kill each other, bull fighting,horse fighting in asia.it is utterly discusting. Look upon the faces of the people who engage in thease so called sports. It is evil .we can take measures steps though just standing up as People of The one true God Almighthy and say , No ! Please help . The HSUS is working so hard to protect thease innocent creatures.

I often wonder if we can not accomplish this task. How are we going to move on to the other tasks that we face for the human race. We all know about what seem of greater importance, poverty,famine,infirmity, hungry children., wars, the list goes on and on.

Could this be a test I ponder. If you are unawares about what is happening to the animals, I challenge you to investigate ,see the pictures I no longer have the stomach to see. Take a stand. God bless the beasts and the children. Gods will be done his his Kingdom come.

Thank you for this chance to express myself, Clare Francis Forjan

Clare Forjan

allow me one more thought. We faught hard to prevent horse slaughter in America five years ago. well in case you do not know an under the table little known bill passed under the table . Signed by our current Leader. Horses are again to be slaughtered here. The killers from Canada and Mexico have been going to the auctions transporting them to their discusting facilities in Canada and Mexico . Butchering them and selling them off to European horse consumers and in Asia , well I am starting to think they will eat anything . Thease are not sick,lame,old, American horses they have taste for. Horses are a part of our heritage and, I feel should not be considered live stock . Yet the trick us the economy is bad the will come as liars,saying they have land and want to help Americans who can't afford their loved horses. If fact they are killers claiming they want to help,in guise of goodness. An American healthy young horse our mustangs too are put to death every 5 minutes. See how it's done. we do not eat horses here. The bill is going to come up for passage soon and the discusting slaughter houses will be back. Please if you will sign petitions ,let us not let this happen.the few jobs it may create here is not worth the carnage. One argument was that Americans are better at killing than Canada or Mexico.

Looks great on our current resume. They really like the taste of the young baby horses the best. This is a big peeve with me and I am begging my Christian community to look into this please. Together we can make a difference.

My feelings about hunting for food and fishing for food is thats ok. If it's just about the kill

And you are a trophy hunter and don't plan to eat or distribute your game it is a sin. If You

Are evolved at all take a moment to thank God And you Stag for giving it's life to sustain yours and your families and friends. The Fish are also a gift from our Creator and not to be mounted on a wall as a trophy. Thease are my feelings for Tim. I am 12generation Hudson valley cradle christian. I am no stranger to hunting,for food,and a pretty good cook.,I also give thanks and mourn the beauty of their carcass and feel a sadness. God gave us the right to take them to sustain us. The big Cats,what's left after being killed for skin and the Wolves should be left alone. Varments well that's another story and why we need predation on them. See there are all kinds who support the humane society.

As far a animals in heaven or souls. I will be content to learn that ,without speculation , and with the extreme hope that I make it there myself one day to see. God Love You and Have Mercy on us and the whole world. Clare Francis

Jeff H

I would suggest that anyone who considers themselves a Christian read Mark 5 verses 1 to 19. This should clarify any issues with how our Lord Jesus regarded animals in comparision to humans. Go ahead read it, any translation you want......

hsus is, has been, and will continue to be a group of deliberate liars who illegally lobby for laws that harm BOTH HUMANS AND ANIMALS.