I can assure you that the rank and file of animal activists are – as
I’ve stated many times on TV – the very salt of this earth. They include
members of all strata’s of society who are united as brothers and
sisters of one noble cause: that of animal protection and care. Indeed,
the more vulnerable a form of life is then the more deserving it is of
our human protection. And this is fully compatible with Christianity’s
supreme analogy: ‘the good shepherd prepared to lay down his life for
wayward sheep’. What a pity that clergy from the Pope down didn’t
realise this! If Benedict had spent as much time preaching such a theme
as he has that of denouncing birth control in poverty stricken lands
such as Brazil, it would have put him in a far better light. Yet he is
surely no more off beam than two local Baptists of the ‘born again’
variety who were generously prepared to buy a whole host of battery
chickens to make a supper for a visiting choir. ‘Animals are put on this
earth for us to eat’, they rationalized ‘and as they have no soul then
it surely matters little as to how they are intensively bred or reared!’
Yes, and both such popes and born agains feel they are more
spiritually advanced than all else. Well, how deluded can these folk
become? I sense that Jesus of Nazareth wouldn’t last long in their midst
today. No more than possibly two and a half years, as He did amongst the
scribes and the Pharisees who brought about His crucifixion: ‘Father
forgive them because they know not what they do!’ he said of the Roman
soldiers But both the Pope and so many of the ‘born again’ know what
they are doing. Hence they may well be – as were their first century
counterparts - without excuse. Meanwhile, the rank and file of a more
middle of the way clerical type simply ‘go through the motions’ as did
priests of the past. And they’re no less averse in hounding the prophets
than were their forbears ‘Don’t rock the boat; don’t be a conscience
rouser; just be nice. Always avoid controversy’ and – in return – you’ll
be liked by all’. Ah yes! Such is the way they reason. But I ask: what
did the Master say? (See Luke 6:26)
Go on to We Came Across Playful
Bullocks Viewing Us Above A Gate
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