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, religion and animal welfare.
• Dr. Jerry Root discusses C.S. Lewis and the concern he had for animals throughout his life. A writer and Christian apologist, Lewis is best known for his fictional work, especially The Chronicles of Narnia, and for his nonfiction such as Mere Christianity and The Problem of Pain.

Here is a link to a discussion of the series in Desert News.   As noted in that article, and as these videos make clear, there is a long history of people committed to living into their faith taking up the banner of animal welfare,even if the topic is rarely addressed in our faith communities:

The forgotten faith connection
Animal welfare activism, like environmentalism, is often associated with liberal politics and secular culture in American society.

Prior said that's likely because faith leaders stopped talking about the issue in their communities, leaving other social issues to fill the void.

"Anytime the church fails (to address) a topic, then other voices are going to pick it up," she said. "And they're not going to pick it up in the same way we would."

Metaxas shared a similar sentiment in one of the Wilberforce videos, explaining that, "Many people write it off as a left-wing obsession, but the reality is that the roots of it comes from people of faith."

In fact, for 34 of the Humane Society's 60 years of operation, the organization was under the leadership of an ordained pastor. John Hoyt, a Presbyterian minister, served as president from 1970 to 1992 and Paul Irwin, a Methodist minister, from 1992 to 2004.

We are in good company, indeed, when we argue for Christian concern for animals -- and when we argue that how we relate to animals is an important issue of faith, and that the concern for animals and the concern for humans goes hand in hand. 

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 Animals, Volume I: Systematic Theology

            We should seek to live according to what we say we believe, and our relationships with animals touch on nearly every aspect of what it means to be Christian.  These are two animating themes underlying David L. Clough’s book, On Animals, Volume I: Systematic Theology.  Since they are also two animating themes underlying this blog, you will not be surprised to learn that I am a big fan of this book.  Clough comes at these issues by delving into fundamental Christian doctrines to see where and how animals, and our relationships with them, might fit into or be informed by those doctrines.  I want to consider a number of ideas Clough discusses and I will do so over the course of several (not necessarily consecutive) posts in coming months.  Today, I just want to consider Clough’s forward and introduction, by way of setting the stage and explaining why I am so excited about this book. 

My dog-eared copy

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.)  If you are not familiar with Farm Sanctuary, please check out their web site.  It is an excellent resource to learn about issues affecting farm animals and to learn the wonderful and heartwarming stories of the animals Farm Sanctuary has rescued and cares for at its three sanctuaries.  

Here is the article:

Thanksgiving is a bitter season for turkeys, with more than 46 million slaughtered for the holiday every year.  During their foreshortened lives, most of these bird suffer intense crowding, and their sensitive beak-tips are amputated to discourage fighting in these stressful conditions.  Selective breeding has designed them to grow so rapidly and so large that it strains their bodies and prevents adult birds from flying or perching.  Knowing this, you might think it would be depressing to hang out with rescued turkeys.  But it's not.  It's a joy.

The industry has taken so much from these animals, but it has done nothing to dull the keenness of their perceptions or the liveliness of their curiosity; it has not dimmed their vivid awareness of (or strong opinions on) their surroundings; it has not diminished the depth of their feelings or the vitality of their friendships.  Every turkey is different -- this one mellow and affectionate, that one daring that one shy -- but all of them are so alive.

 This Thanksgiving and Christmas, consider adding to your list of things to be thankful for your ability to be compassionate.  Give thanks to God for the wonder of these marvelous birds and celebrate God's mercy by showing mercy.  Adopt a turkey at Farm Sanctuary instead of eating one.  There are so many wonderful meat-free alternatives, you will never miss it.  Here, selected somewhat at random, is a link to plant-based Thanksgiving recipies from Forks Over Knives.  There are LOTS more available with a quick google search.   As Farm Sanctuary says, "A compassionate world begins with you."  I'm sure the Good Shepherd would agree.

Eastern Wild Turkey, G. Stoltz, US FWS

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 subject that most clergy and worshippers don’t even think of as relevant to worship.  I try (some Sundays with greater success than others) to turn those feelings of dissatisfaction into motivation to do good, and to turn my attention back to the service.

            Some of the prayers and readings on Sunday, September 28, struck me as particularly instructive regarding why, if we will only pay attention to what we say we believe, we will come to understand our obligations of mercy and compassion toward our fellow creatures, and how there are so many opportunities to bring an awareness of those obligations to light in worship.  In this post, I want to take a look at the Episcopal liturgy for that day, to try to illustrate what I mean.

The Book of Common Prayer

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, laboratories, steel leg traps, hoarding situations, puppy mills, chained in yards, locked in basements, dodging bb shot, wounded by arrows from hunters, fenced in canned hunting grounds, and more.  Pray that the church, and all humans, will come to see all of these practices as the indefensible cruelty they are and we that we can all work together to make the world a kinder place for both humans and other animals.   

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships,

so that you may live deep in your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of [any creature],

so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war,

so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world,

so that you can do what other claim cannot be done.

Amen.

 

May God grant you a joyous and blessed St. Francis Day, filled with the joy of companionship - human and animal, and strengthen you to do His work for the animals in the days and years to come.  

Here is a link to my St. Francis Day post from last year, How To Be A Blessing To The Animals. 

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 is a member of the Darigold Cooperative in Washington have been advised that employees caught taking photos or videos of the facility will be "subject to immediate dismissal."  The article continues: "We have been hearing from many Darigold farmworkers about poor treatment of both cows and workers. Too often, workers are forced to milk sick and injured cows instead of helping the cows get treated. Too often, workers bring their own drinking water to work because of filthy conditions at the dairy."

 ---------------------------------------------

     Here are some links to a couple of things I saw this week that relate to my post last week.  The first one is an article from Reuters regarding the use of antibiotics in the poultry industry and its impact on the rise of antibiotic-resistent "superbugs:" 

Farmaceuticals: The Drugs Fed to Farm Animals And The Risks Posed To Humans.

Here's how it opens:  "Major U.S. poultry firms are administering antibiotics to their flocks far more pervasively than regulators realize, posing a potential risk to human health."

     Here is an article from Huffington Post by Moby, discussing the connections between factory farming and harm to the environment and world hunger- it includes a lot of excellent information, including this tidbit, "It takes around 15 pounds of grain to make one pound of beef - which can feed a couple people for a few hours. In comparison, 13 pounds of grain fed to humans directly can feed 13 people for most of the day."  Save The Humans.

       Finally, here  is a photo posted on Facebook by VegNews Magazine:  

       Animal welfare is not just about what's good for animals.  For Christians called to live in the image of God, however, even what's good for animals should be enough.