PETA "Targets" Catholic Monks

PETA has a new investigation on the mistreatment of chickens at Mepkin Abbey, a Christian monastery (Trappist) in South Carolina that sells eggs to make money. (Information and video here. Watch all of it. The last 30 seconds or so is the most shocking, even though it is not graphic.) What you see is standard for the egg industry, nothing more cruel than average. It's probably similar (or better than) what you would find at Rubashkin's chicken growing operations.

I post this for one reason. Nathan Lewin, Rubashkin's attorney and Agudah confidant, has continually compared PETA to the NAZIs, claiming PETA "targeted" kosher slaughter. Of course, PETA "targeted" Kentucky Fried Chicken and many other companies, but truth has never been Lewin's strong point. PETA's lead investigator on this project is a devout Roman Catholic, as is Bruce Friedrich, who heads this unit of PETA, as are many other PETA employees and activists. PETA, in fact, is chock full of Catholics and Jews – some devout, some lapsed, some in between.

The idea that PETA was "targeting" kosher slaughter was and remains preposterous. About the only "argument" left for Lewin to make is that PETA is really a secret branch of an international atheist's cabal. Look for that one the next time Rubashkin gets caught playing fast and loose with animal welfare law, humane slaughter regulations and halakha.

Comments

[EileenK]

I wrote about PETA and Mepkin Abbey on my blog tonight. Basicly, PETA, goes after the weakest link and the one that is most different from the rest of us. How many people (Most people are NOT Jewish) eat kosher meat? The religious hypocrisy angle is good for hiding the fact that PETA is a radical vegan organization that opposes zoos and scientific research.

I've just had my nose rubbed in two of PETA's public shaming campaigns via a mailing list and tonight I wrote a letter of support to the monks at Mepkin Abbey.

PETA hit them probably because their security was poor and also because how many Americans have any connection to monastic life. It is always easier to get others to join you in striking out against the other.

[Shmarya]

And that explains their very public campaign against KFC and many other huge corporations? Please. They were tipped off about the monks and it upset them because, as it happens, the investigator in charge is a devout, practicing Catholic.

[EileenK]

I'd have to look at the KFC campaign, but I bet it has strains of the same song. PETA's campaign against Giant Eagle is a campaign against a large corporation, but it too involves attacking an "other." How many people eat foie gras even two or three times a year. I'll look at the KFC campaign. I suspect it might make good blog fodder.

[Neo-Conservaguy]

It's always shocking to see this mistreatment of animals, even if you already know about the details. But, I have to disagree with PETA - there is another choice for the consumer besides giving up eggs and learning to like "tofu scramble". Cage-free eggs from organically fed chickens are available at most large supermarkets; they cost about twice the price of cheaper eggs. Consumers have a choice: make one that matters, and purchase the cage-free eggs.

[D]

Cage-free eggs from organically fed chickens are available at most large supermarkets; they cost about twice the price of cheaper eggs.They also require more resources in terms of land and feed and yield a higher output of CO2 per egg than standard production methods. Your choice: animal cruelty or more of that stuff causing the greenhouse effect.