Living Legacy: Faith Voices on Animal Protection (Updated 11/1/14) Here is a great new three-part video series from the Human Society of the United States Faith Outreach Department. In this series, three notable animal advocates, whose faith inspires their concern for animals, speak about three such figures from the past. HSUS explains: Eric Metaxas discusses William Wilberforce , an evangelical member of Britain’s Parliament, best known for championing the equal rights of all human beings through the passage of the Foreign Slave Trade Act (1806-07). Wilberforce also passionately fought for the welfare of animals, seeing a direct link between how humans treat animals and how they treat their neighbors. Dr. Karen Swallow Prior discusses Hannah More and her commitment to reforming culture. More, a close friend of William Wilberforce, advocated for the abolition of slavery and the improvement of morals, education, rel...
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A Vital Theological Task “I agree with Barth, however, that theology is finally fruitless unless the results of its reflections are brought to bear on questions of practice.” “The animal question is a properly theological one in the sense that it raises and illuminates issues concerning the adequacy and coherence of Christian doctrine in the areas of trinity, creation, covenant, incarnation, atonement, eschatology, Christology, pneumatology, and beyond.” ~ David L. Clough, On A nimals, Volume I: Systematic Theology ...
TALKING TURKEY “ Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.” Rev. Dr. Albert Schweitzer As the holiday season approaches, and we all start planning our feasts, especially our Thanksgiving feasts, I wanted to share this short article from Farm Sanctuary's Sanctuary magazine, from the Fall/Winter 2014 issue. This is by Susie Coston, Farm Sanctuary's National Shelter Director (I think she must have the best job in the history of jobs...
REFLECTIONS ON THE LITURGY O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. ~ Collect of the Day, September 28, 2014 It is sadly true that I often listen to the liturgy on a Sunday through the ears of our fellow creatures. I listen to hear what our prayers, our hymns, and our sermons are teaching us about our relationships with animals. It is sad because it can be a source of distraction, annoyance, and impatience. I hear the opportunities not taken for instruction, the unfortunate turns of phrase, and the prayers not said. This is not the best path to worship. It is, however, a predictable result when one is passionate about a...
A BLESSING FOR ST. FRANCIS DAY “If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who deal likewise with their fellow men.” St. Francis of Assis This blessing is identified in some places as "a Franciscan blessing," but I don't know the origin of it. Nevertheless, I think it is an important one for animals, and for the links between disregard of animals suffering and disregard of human suffering, a link St. Francis readily made. (A link so clear now, in fact, that the FBI now recognizes animal cruelty as a Group A felony , just like homicide, arson, and assault.) So, as you read the blessig below, think especially of the animals in factory farms, fur farms, laborat...
FOLLOWING UP ON LAST WEEK'S POST (Updated Oct 5) "In a report this year, the World Health Organization called antibiotic resistance 'a problem so serious it threatens the achievements of modern medicine.'" - Reuters Update : Here is yet another article on the relationship between human and animal suffering. This one is coauthored by Paul Shapiro from the Humane Society of the United States and Eric Nicholson of the United Farm Workers. It addresses ag-gag laws and their impact on both animals and workers in factory farms: Industry Hides Animal Cruelty Instead of Ending It . This one opens by saying that workers at a factory farm that...