Chuck Jolley:There is a growing activist movement that would have us do away with animal agriculture.Groups like HSUS and PETA have been very vocal and seem to be making some alarming inroads.One of the latest techniques has been quoting scripture - Thou shalt not kill, for instance - as 'proof' that consuming a chicken leg is a mortal sin.You discussed the issue as part of the opening defensive salvo in your Truthinfood web site.Would you give me the "Cliff Notes' version of that rather lengthy commentary?
Kevin Murphy:Absolutely.I want to take their claims and really scrutinize them rather than scoff and readily dismiss them. So when I heard an animal activist use the Lord’s commandment of “Thou Shalt Not Kill” as a blanket condemnation of food animal production I gave it merit.
I addressed it point by point.If you’re a bible believer and believe in its sacredness or just look at the bible as historical literature, either way, it does NOT support the claim that killing animals for food is in violation of God’s law.In the article, I quote scriptural evidence; the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the tradition of Passover, etc.I particularly looked at the commandment within the context of which it appears.
In the book Dominion by Matthew Scully he argues not for animal “rights” but for mercy toward animals.He goes on to say “from a strategic standpoint, no moral cause ever got very far that could not speak to religious conviction.”So you’re hearing more animal activists quote scripture and question the ethics of modern day food animal production. This is why HSUS has a moral thought leader movement called All Creatures Great & Small.
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