Humane Society unveils program
Posted on Saturday, October 6, 2007
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Religion/203602/
SAN ANTONIO — Religious communities are increasingly recognizing the importance of pets, and the Humane Society of the United States is hoping they will extend their interest to the protection of all animals.
The Humane Society unveiled its Animals and Religion program during a meeting of the Religion Newswriters Association in San Antonio, which ended Sunday.
The goal of the Humane Society’s interfaith program is to encourage people of faith and religious groups to get involved in animal welfare issues.
Christine Gutleben, director of the program, said the support of the religious community is needed for success.
“History has [proven ] there has not been a successful social justice movement without the support of the religious community,” she said. “We really have the potential to create massive change.”
The program is consistent with the religious ideals found in many faiths, including mercy, compassion and justice, she said. Major world religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam, encourage ethical behavior toward others, and Gutleben said animals should be treated with consideration, as well.
A major portion of the program is dedicated to exploring the role food plays in various religious traditions. The Food, Farming and Faith initiative also promotes faithful stewardship of agricultural animals.
Treating animals with compassion doesn’t mean you have to be a vegetarian, Gutleben said. The program is simply advocating humane treatment of animals, as well as mindful food choices.
Gutleben hopes the program will encourage people of faith to think about their food choices in relation to their beliefs and principles, and motivate them to push for improvements in animal welfare policies in their own communities and at the national level.
“We want them to make a connection between what they are eating and where it’s coming from,” she said. “We want our faith to be relevant in our daily lives, our daily choices, and making meaningful food choices provides us a wonderful opportunity.”
Some denominations have already taken a stand on animal welfare, including the Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church. Gutleben said both groups are concerned about the welfare of farm animals and animal protection issues. She hopes other denominations will follow.
“They are models of what we’d like others to adopt,” she said. “They provide motivation for other churches to support our work.”
At the local congregational level, Gutleben said, the Humane Society will encourage churches to create food policies and pledge to use more humane and sustainable sources. Many denominations, including the Presbyterian Church (U. S. A. ), already support fair trade practices by buying coffee and other items directly from farmers and artisans, rather than through large corporations. The Humane Society program offers a similar way for congregations to make an impact by supporting animal welfare.
“It’s a small thing, but it sets things in motion and support grows,” she said. “We make decisions that [affect ] lives of farm animals every day. Hopefully this makes us more mindful of those choices.”
Information is available online at www. humanesociety. org / religion.