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Dear Catholic Exchange:
I just read your reprint of Debra Saunders' article, Animals Over Humans, and I had to write.
This is second time in recent weeks you have published a one-sided criticism of those who are concerned about the way our society uses animals. For the record, I am not a vegetarian (by any definition), don't belong to PETA, and am not against hunting (for food, but not trophies).
But my 18-year-old daughter, who is a very orthodox practicing Catholic, is a “vegan”. Vegan (pronounced VEE gan) is newly coined term for those who do not eat or use any animal products (not even milk, eggs, or honey). Her personal journey to this position started when she was 14, and it's helped our family to call attention to some very real ethical issues we are confronted with, especially when it comes to the animal experimentation industry. You know, tradition ethical questions for Catholics like, “Does the end justify the means?”
Instead of superficial attacks on the admittedly extremist views of PETA, you might want to consider reprinting CS Lewis's terrific examination of the animal experimentation debate. In the 19th century, he says, main-stream religious figures denounced animal experimentation in the strongest of terms. By Lewis's day, he laments, “the vivisectionists have won.” But only by having the more powerful utilitarian claims, not by having stronger ethical arguments.
Let's hear from the other side of this debate — not all vegetarians are irresponsible, unthinking nuts. And there are legitimate issues that call for thoughtful discussion, not PR pieces for a utilitarian philosophy.
Ted Fischer-Toerpe
Dear Mr. Fischer-Toerpe,
Thank you for writing. We seem often to run into the form of objection that you raise. When we publish articles against the radical homosexual agenda, folks write to tell us that all “gays” are not rabidly trying to destroy our society. When we publish articles about the agenda of far-left, pro-abortion Democrats, someone is bound to write to tell us about a pro-life Democrat. And here we go exposing PETA and now we've insulted all the vegans. Such are the perils of running an online magazine with such a varied audience. We would be happy to publish something written from a solid Catholic position that deals with the issues that have exercised your daughter. Perhaps you know of some articles that we could get permission to reprint. Or maybe your daughter would like to write an article telling how she came to her conclusions. In the meantime rest assured that there is not a vivesectionist among us and the spoiled-rotten Lab resting at my feet as I type wants you to know that in my house, at least, animals are quite privileged but that he is not about to become a vegan.
Mary Kochan
Contributing Editor
Catholic Exchange
***
Dear Catholic Exchange,
FYI, the following email was sent to Marcel Gervais and Prime Minister Jean Chretien in reply to your article Canadian Prime Minister Taunts Church: “I Am A Catholic And For Abortion.
In Christ,
Bob
Dear Rt. Hon. Jean Chretien (Prime Minister of
Canada),I am writing in reference to Catholic Exchange article Canadian Prime Minister Taunts Church: “I Am A Catholic And For Abortion.
I believe the number one issue in our world today is abortion. Society refuses to accept that the unborn is a human being, who is created by God, and must be protected by law. Every corner of humanity should be outraged, but they are not.
Our holy innocents are dying and our so-called Bishops and so-called Catholics are debating the reasons why they refuse to be Catholic.
Our Holy Father has made the issue definitively clear throughout his pontificate. The Church has never changed its position on abortion. There are many Church documents that reveal the one and true teaching of the Church, i.e. please read some of the more recent, i.e. the CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH DOCTRINAL NOTE on some questions regarding The Participation of Catholics in the Political Life.
“John Paul II, continuing the constant teaching of the Church, has reiterated many times that those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a «grave and clear obligation to oppose» any law that attacks human life.” Or Evangelium Vitae references Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live,” Or the HOLY FATHER'S ADDRESS AT THE COMMEMORATION OF THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENCYCLICAL EVANGELIUM VITAE Monday, 14 February 2000 “It must always be an integral part of the Church's pastoral ministry, whose task is to proclaim the “Gospel of life”. Or Catechism of the Catholic Church 272 “Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. A
person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,” 894 “The bishops, as vicars and legates of Christ, govern the particular Churches assigned to them by their counsels, exhortations, and example, but over and above that also by the authority and sacred power.”In the US, we have many so-called Bishops (i.e. Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton) and so-called Catholic politicians (i.e. Ted Kennedy) who continue to bring disgrace to His Church. Just because a man may hold a particular office or may wear a mitre doesn't mean that they are Catholic and in communion with the Church.
Please do one or the other – renounce your faith or reform, repent and ask God for forgiveness.
Either have fidelity to His Church or stop receiving the Eucharist and stop referring to yourself as Catholic. You are not in communion with the Church.
Canada was once a very Catholic country, there may be very good Catholics in the country today but the leadership and its laws are becoming less and less Catholic.In Christ,
Bob O’Meara
Nashua, New Hampshire
