PETA Mistakenly Targets Alaska Church
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- The pastor at Anchorage First Free Methodist Church was mystified. Why was the activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals chastising him? No animals are harmed in the church's holiday nativity display. In fact, animals aren't used at all.
People, however, do dress the parts - Mary, Joseph, the wise men, etc. The volunteers stand shivering at a manger on the church lawn in a silent tribute to Christmas.
The Rev. Jason Armstrong was confused by an e-mail this week from PETA, which admonished him for subjecting animals "to cruel treatment and danger," by forcing them into roles in the church's annual manger scene.
"We've never had live animals, so I just figured this was some spam thing," Armstrong said. "It's rough enough on us people standing out there in the cold. So we're definitely not using animals."
Jackie Vergerio, PETA's captive animals in entertainment specialist, said her organization tracks churches nationwide that use real animals in "living nativity scenes."
Well that would be a rather strange bullet to have in your resume.
Seems the confusion started with the church's choice of phrase. PETA flagged Free Methodist's display as a "living nativity," and indeed, that's how the church describes it on its Web site.
To PETA, that means animals.
Wow if this mistake doesn't say everything about PETA nothing does. Exactly how dangerous is it for an animal to get a gig at a Nativity scene in the first place? Is their a high incidence of being crushed by a Creshe or accidents involving swaddling clothes? Where does the cruel part come in? Perhaps it is forcing animals to act and not getting paid to scale. Are they giving them their motivations first before thrusting them on stage. Are Cows and sheep always getting type-cast as cows and sheep?
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Clearly the issue is forcing animals, who may be atheist cows or Buddhist sheep or even animist asses, to participate in a religious display that they may not agree with.
Someone call the ACLU!
Somebody had better sic PETA on the Mormons - they have live animals in their Nativity plays every year. The animals don't mind that so much; it's the sonorous medley of Joseph Smith propoganda with which they must up afterwards.
Being that all PETA members are pagans and they are ashamed of their pagan ancestors who practiced animal sacrifice for tens of thousands of years before they devised human sacrifice, it is understandable, not being at all familiar with what "nativity" means, that the PETA Pagans could get confused.
Live animals in a creche is cruel. In a blatant act of speciesism, the second person of the trinity passed them over and incarnated himself as one of us. It sends the message that we are somehow special, and this, of course, cannot be tolerated, particularly during the holiday season.
[/sarcastic]
Why would People Eating Tasty Animals object to animals used in a Nativity...unless, of course, they are disappointed that the cows, sheep, goats, donkeys, etc aren't being eaten....
Mmmmmm....steak....stuffed lambchop....
Yes, they're right. I'm offended that the Nativity scene doesn't include a grill.
I'll never forget how Pinheads Excited about Talking like Asses turned up at Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston a few years ago. They were aghast at the Blessing of the Animals Rite on Saint Francis Day.
Well, gee...one hamster got his poor little face splashed with Holy Water!
So as not to confuse PETA, from now on, everyone should post a sign that says: "No animals were harmed in the making of this Nativity Set."
'PETA flagged Free Methodist's display as a "living nativity," and indeed, that's how the church describes it on its Web site.
To PETA, that means animals.'
It's true: PETA no longer considers humans alive anymore.
"So as not to confuse PETA, from now on, everyone should post a sign that says: 'No animals were harmed in the making of this Nativity Set.'"
That and how about: "Free veal chops for the first 10 visitors"?
PETA is nothing more than a gang of crooks, cheats, liars, and hypocrites.
PETA is so right. How can anyone be so cruel as to make animals be outside? Don't oxen, donkeys and sheep normally stay in climate controlled environments?