Another reason (in addition to the Rashba's strong condemnation of the ritual as pagan in origin) why kapparot should be banned:
Last Sunday the ASPCA [American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] seized more than 200 chickens from a Brooklyn lot.
These chickens were on sale as part of the Jewish kapparah rite by vendors camped out at a construction site at Coney Island Ave. and Avenue L in Midwood. …
The chickens were crammed into crates, stacked on top of one another and left out in the rain for days. These birds were encrusted with dried feces, urine and blood. Many suffered from severed toes, plucked out eyes and severe dehydration. ASPCA agents, sifted through the pile of discarded chickens and rescued the remaining live ones. An investigation into their death is underway.
Perhaps the more informed can tell us how torturing and maltreating innocent animals (as opposed to simply schechting them and giving their meat to the poor or to yeshivot) expiates sin.
Rabbis? Why are you silent?
[Hat tip: PS]
UPDATE: New York Daily News coverage here.