AR-News: Good quotes from Fr. John Dear, S.J.

[Bruce Friedrich]

Note: I believe that this is the very first time in human history that a
member of the Catholic clergy has advocated vegetarianism with a strong
stance on the cruel treatment of animals. Here are some quotes from PETA's
booklet by Fr. Dear, titled Christianity and Vegetarianism. There is also a
cassette and c.d. of Fr. Dear reading the text. We sell the c.d. or cassette
for just $5 and are happy to give away unlimited copies of the booklet for
distribution outside Catholic churches, to be placed in Catholic church
literature areas, etc. The entire booklet is available at www.JesusVeg.com. 

Selected Quotes from
Christianity and Vegetarianism: Pursuing the Nonviolence of Jesus
By Fr. John Dear, S.J.

While people suffer and die of starvation in Central and South America,
these regions ship their grain to the U.S. to feed our cows, pigs, and
chickens so that we can satisfy our desire for animal flesh, milk, and eggs.
P. 3.

When we sit down to eat, when we say our grace and invoke the blessing of
Jesus, we should also choose to adhere to his life of compassion and
nonviolence by maintaining a vegetarian diet.  P. 8.

Reality today for God's creatures is neither compassionate nor merciful.
Our treatment of God's animals is cruel and gruesome.  Each year, the United
States raises and kills about 9 billion land animals and slaughters another
15 billion sea animals. P.8.

Vegetarianism proves that we're serious about our belief in compassion and
justice, that we're mindful of our commitment, day in and day out, every
time we eat.  We are reminded of our belief in mercy, and we remind others.
We begin to live the nonviolent vision, right here and now.  P. 10.  

Many Christians who agree that harming a dog or cat is wrong think nothing
of harming cows, pigs, chickens, fish and other creatures.  We need to
understand that if we're eating meat, we are paying people to be cruel to
animals.  For the simple reasons that all animals are creatures beloved by
God and that God created them with a capacity for pain and suffering, we
should adopt a vegetarian diet.  P. 10-11.

I am convinced that society will look back on human arrogance and cruelty
toward other animals with the same horror and disbelief that we presently
reserve for atrocities committed against human beings.  P. 16.

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