In May 2009 the EU passed a law saying that meat from religious
slaughter must be made available. This sadly bypasses the
existing laws of countries such as Switzerland, Finland, Lithuania,
Latvia and Estonia who had already outlawed Halal and Kosher meats
because of the cruelty involved. Well, what are we going to do? Sit on
our bottoms! Remain mute, and condone, by such cowardice, the perpetual
slaughter of fully conscious animals within UK abattoirs? Well God
forbid!
Last year a group of us joined forces to oppose the halal meat
slaughtering methods being introduced in to an abattoir at Caernarfon.
Indeed, the press coverage was almost nil as, obviously, they did not
want to offend the Welsh farmers who were more than delighted to have
another market for their intensively produced sheep. And what is even
more astounding is that an older breed of such farmers are amongst the
leading lights of those frequenting the Welsh chapels of the
countryside. Indeed. Quite amazingly, they usually sing with much gusto:
‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’. But they wouldn’t want to think for one moment
that The Lord’s dealings over them was in any way synonymous with the
way they treat the flocks committed to them!
Woe betides any preachers who dare to touch on the evils of factory
farming, intensive breeding, or the evils of either the dairy industry
or the battery chicken practices that prevail! Such issues must never be
as much as alluded to or indirectly suggested. By all means denounce
promiscuity, strong drink, and a whole host of other subjects – but do
not touch on unsavoury practices within the farming world! For one thing
is sure – and I write from firsthand experience! – If you do, you’ll
never be aslked back again! Mind you, it doesn’t only apply to Welsh
chapels: a memorable experience occurred to me in an English cathedral
.