PETA Targets Church Over Supposed “Live Nativity”
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Wed, December 06, 2006
- Viewed 328
- (25) comments so far
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)—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.”
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.
“Those animals are subject to all sorts of terrible fates in some cases,” Vergerio said. “Animals have been stolen and slaughtered, they’ve been raped, they’ve escaped from the nativity scenes and have been struck by cars and killed. Just really unfathomable things have happened to them.”
In the letter to Armstrong, Vergerio shared some sad fates of previous nativity animals - like Brighty the donkey, snatched from a nativity scene in Virginia and beaten by three young men. Ernie the camel fled a creche in Maryland but was struck and killed by a car. Two sheep and a donkey had to be euthanized after a dog mauling at a manger scene in Virginia.
“We have some puppet camel things we put out,” Armstrong said. “We have a cow hood thing that a person will wear that actually just looks spooky.”
“No one’s come by protesting or thrown bloodstained fur at us or anything,” Armstrong said. “We even use a plastic baby.”
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…
Comments
if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.
kent on Wed, December 06, 2006
You know we could use an organization called PETP. In our world it is far more dangerous to be a human being than be an animal.
Peter Hamm on Wed, December 06, 2006
PETA… what a model of what an activist organization should be. You should have saved this for Friday, Todd.
http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/wink.gif
Leonard on Wed, December 06, 2006
I am a member of PETA. I have been for years now. I think that the organization is wonderful and often recruit people to join. PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS
Chip Sanders on Wed, December 06, 2006
“they’ve been raped”
Forgive me if I’m a bit skeptical that this has ever happened during a live nativity scene at a church.
Daniel on Wed, December 06, 2006
Chip, perhaps the mistreatment of animals happens behind the scenes…? As it usually does with humans. Or perhaps you don’t think that we’re that fallen?
PETA can probably be overzealous at times, like any activist group, but I have profound respect for what they’re trying to do. As Christians we should be thrilled that someone’s made it their mission to look after God’s creatures (although it’s something we should all be doing—though not necessarily in the same way as the PETA).
My two cents.
-Daniel-
DanielR (a different Daniel) on Wed, December 06, 2006
Daniel, I agree with you that PETA does noble work in looking after God’s creatures. But you’ve got to admit they’re pretty funny about it sometimes. They admonished this church and Pastor for something they obviously never even looked into; they saw “living nativity” and assumed they were treating animals cruelly. Apparently PETA is NOT concerned that human beings are standing out on the frozen Alaskan tundra in winter, only that they may have animals with them?
Sometimes, just sometimes, it seems like PETA activists are less concerned about humane treatment of animals and just looking for something to protest.
I agree this would have been a good one for Friday.
Peter Hamm on Wed, December 06, 2006
Leonard,
I was going to say that, living in Western PA -hunting country and all- but I restrained. I’m so glad you didn’t!
Jeff on Wed, December 06, 2006
“Those animals are subject to all sorts of terrible fates in some cases,” Vergerio said. “Animals have been stolen and slaughtered, they’ve been raped, they’ve escaped from the nativity scenes and have been struck by cars and killed. Just really unfathomable things have happened to them.”
And we know this from what evidence? ...
Excuse me while I leave to go deer hunting!
Daniel on Wed, December 06, 2006
Jeff, is there not plenty of evidence to prove that human beings are sick and twisted, and that this sickness affects how we treat animals? The fact is, God gave us the job of having proper dominion over the Earth, of ruling with kindness, justice and mercy—over the animal kingdom! PETA aside, we should avoid pretending like no animals ever get mistreated. We shoud avoid pretending like animals don’t get raped, and we should avoid pretending that everything is A-OK. Go deer hunting if you like, but don’t make fun of people who think we shouldn’t be torturing and raping God’s good creation.
Leonard on Wed, December 06, 2006
Daniel,
I don’t think anyone here believes we should torture and rape animals. I think we will vehemently disagree as to the value of PETA and as to what constitutes abusing animals. As for the accusation of raping animals connected with nativity scenes, I too would like to see some evedence. Seems like a big accusation, gotta be some evedence somewhere for it to be mentioned. Must have happened lot’s of times for it to be such a big issue. Oh wait, this church didn’t even use live animals, they were protesting… Their protest goes to their credibility, which in my opinion is none.
Jeff on Wed, December 06, 2006
That’s kind of my point Leonard… No disrespect meant Daniel… But PETA is not about stewardship of God’s creation.
I COMPLETELY AGREE that we are to be good stewards of God’s creation… ALL OF IT. But, the radical over-valuing of animals above respect for humanity is not good stewardship.
Monday, I saw a Mt Lion while out deer hunting. I did not kill it (though it is hunting a little too close to people I love). In their misguided thought that “nature” is better at stewardship than rationally thinking human beings, the State of Nebraska introduced Mt Lions to help control the deer population… the major proponents of this flawed philosophy are groups LIKE PETA. Rather than increasing the number of tags available, they introduce an indescriminate killer. Since then, Mt Lions have been trapped in OMAHA (which is what we call a MAJOR CITY in Nebraska). There are now documented cases of human endangeerment caused by the critters that were introduced to keep “Mother Nature” in her perfect balance.
The whole question of animal rights is one of THEOLOGY. I (not so humbly) choose to not to align or interpret my theology of creation stewardship based on a group who publicly and repeatedly justifies their own violence (verbal, legal, vandelism, other) against people in the name of that which people were created to “rule over” and “care for.”
Are there sick and indiscrimate people… yes. WE are sinful and fallen. Should that give me the right (or even motivate me) to scream and rant, in ignorance, about a church having a meaningful spiritual display… I doubt it!
Jeff on Wed, December 06, 2006
Oh Yeah, not to stereo-typoe but I meant to point this out when I first commented…
This church is in ANCHORAGE ALASKA!!! That is a city in a large state which is a small part of the north-western North American continent which extends far beyond the net-roplex of the eastern seaboard…
I’ll help pay for any PETA members who want to fly there and investigate this thing in person rather than sit in Norfolk, VA and rant from their leather desk chairs…
Daniel on Wed, December 06, 2006
Thanks for the qualifications guys. I guess I’m just so tired of hearing Christians undervalue the animal kingdom that a little ‘overvaluation’ from the folks at PETA is a welcome change. I know next to nothing about them, so I’ll leave it to you (since you seem to know more) to judge how well they do what they do (it sounds like they’re not doing so hot).
In any case, I’m glad we can agree about our job descriptions as Christians.
Which only leaves the question: what is the point of doing a live (humanly speaking) manger scene in Alaska???
Pastor Al on Wed, December 06, 2006
That’s why I suggest killing the animals first and then stuffing them… In the long run the animals will not be a traumatized!
Pastor Al on Wed, December 06, 2006
“Animals have been stolen and slaughtered, they’ve been raped”
Come on PETA just because an animal has a different “orientation” doesn’t mean we should judge them!!!
Page 1 of 2 pages 1 2 >
Post a Comment