It never seems to end! Twelve years ago Doreen and I
visited the region of Lough Derg to bless a sanctuary opened by another
female spiritual giant. Johanne Vothke of Germany! This gem of a lady
had opened up a haven for animals either rescued or thrown out after
being unable to run on the race tracks! Well, it appears as if – over
twelve years on! - that conditions for greyhounds in this Free State
could even get worse! I’ve learned from most reliable sources that
greyhounds no longer fit for racing are to be sold to countries such as
The People’s Republic Of China. Yes - not only to be possibly raced
until they drop from exhaustion – but now to be used as meat for human
consumption via slaughtering methods of downright cruelty which beggar
belief.
Where Oh where is the spirit of St Francis within the
Christian communities of Ireland? Have they all become mute because big
money is involved? Talk about the scripture: ‘The love of money is
the root of all evil’; well it certainly is when the authorities
within the Irish Government stifle their consciences for the sake of it!
The good people of Eire must have been nurtured in a strange kind of
spiritual environment when they feel guilt ridden for factors like
having practised birth control or having missed a mass; yet can condone
and perpetuate appalling animal cruelty without a twinge of conscience!
Well, may the good folk of those shores never forget
that Our Lord identified His character with that of a good shepherd
prepared to lay down his life for one wandering sheep, and that he had
little if any time for those religious leaders of His day who picked out
moral midges while they swallowed moral camels whole! Well, but for the
grace of God, we too could have been born as one of these exploited
greyhounds. Instead, we have been born – this time round? - into the
intended Guardian species. However, let us never forget our Precious
Lord’s warning: ‘To whom most has been given, from them the most will
be required on judgment day’.
Go on to Next Article
Return to Spring 2011 Issue
Return to Newsletters