Animal cruelty and food

[timeandeternity]

Is there any flaws in these premises?

1. Patronizing company X that does morally objectionable behavior X is participating in morally objectionable behavior X (even if you did not know if company X did morally objectionable behavior since you patronized them even in doubt).
2. Participating in sin is sinful.
   Conclusion: Patronizing company X (even when unsure) is sinful.

This would apply not only to animal cruelty and eating, but a large array of other instances.

It depends. I recently discussed cooperation with evil with a member of my extended family who is a priest and a moral theologian, and when it is and isn’t acceptable. He sent me a great article that really clarifies this issue. Unfortunately CAF won’t let me attach it b/c it’s too large, but if you would like to PM me with your email, I can send it to you.

 

[McatholicN]

Catechism:

1779 It is important for every person to be sufficiently present to himself in order to hear and follow the voice of his conscience. This requirement of interiority is all the more necessary as life often distracts us from any reflection, self-examination or introspection:

My opinion:

Factory farms are an example of comparative advantage. We don’t want to witness the animal abuse, but we pay someone else to do it; as long as they keep it out of our sight/mind.

But once we come to knowledge of the consequences of our purchasing habits, we are guilty of sin.

So would you consider buying a postage stamp sinful (assuming all other necessary conditions) by these guidelines? Certainly, the government spends money on immoral causes (I believe that’s where USPS income goes; the government). What about wearing clothes made in a cruel sweatshop? It seems to me that almost no matter what you buy, some immoral practice went into it.

 

[Infiltrator]

You are seeing it from the wrong perspective.

Cruelty, wether animal or human, taints the heart and soul of that person who does it. It’s the same as pornography, or killing or anything God tells us not to do. If you engage in evil, evil will taint your heart. The act becomes easier. This is why we are called not to be cruel to others, animal or human. It is for our benefit. When we die, we will see all of the things that we have done wrong, the things we do not realise as wrong, because we have hardened our hearts to them. That leads to hell / purgatory.

If you find someone else is being cruel, you should confront them gently, if they will not listen bring it to the church and confront them together still gently. If they still will not listen, simply walk away.

So if MacDonald’s, for example, is treating their animals in a cruel way, don’t go there. It’s nothing to do with them; it is all to do with you.

 

[McatholicN]

So if MacDonald’s, for example, is treating their animals in a cruel way, don’t go there. It’s nothing to do with them; it is all to do with you.

Sounds easy enough… until you realize that probably every company is participating in some immoral action, meaning that you would be participating in cruelty virtually by buying anything.

 

[Matrix_Refugee]

Personally, I just pray that the farms that produce the food that I buy treat their livestock with dignity and care. It would be nice if I could find some kind of certified cruelty-free food, but that isn’t always possible where I live, so this is the best I can probably do.

 

[Echolynn]

We are all called to good stewardship. God did not give us care of the land and the animals to destroy, rape and pillage - He will call us to account as Jesus told in the parable of the stewards left with the landowner’s coins.

www.eatwild.com

 

[4elise]

I spoke to a seminarian about this and he said that you are not culpable if you are the third-in-line (tertiary) from the intial sinful action (we can’t judge if the person actually sinned or not, right?). In this case, the intial action would be the cruelty to animals, then the selling of that food, and then us - the buying and eating of that food. He said that this was from Saint Thomas Aquainas and agreed when I asked if it was backed by the Church. Is this the case?

If the majority of our meat and animal products comes from factory farms, shouldn’t our default assumption be that animal cruelty was used? It would be tough for me to start eating lettuce sandwiches, etc. at the lunchtable at school and the dinner table at home while everyone else has their hamburgers, steak, etc. beginning now.

I would agree - because I live in a city, don’t have access to family farms where I can go visit what would some day be my dinner - so yes - the majority, if not all meat and animal products I could get at a supermarket or restaurant would come from factory farms - so - the more I learned the more difficult it became to ignore this - someone else here said - something like don’t ask if you don’t want to know - and that is pretty much my answer when someone asks why I am a vegan, I just say I couldn’t ‘un-learn’ what I learned - and don’t offer to share unless I am really pushed. But I will give the over view answer: my reasons are not only for the animals, but for creation care, for humans because of limited resources, not to mention the issues related to health of those humans working in factory farms, involved in commercial fishing, etc… - and FYI you certainly don’t have to eat lettuce sandwiches these days - so many good non animal options… just a matter of making a choice.

 

[4elise]

Catechism:

1779 It is important for every person to be sufficiently present to himself in order to hear and follow the voice of his conscience. This requirement of interiority is all the more necessary as life often distracts us from any reflection, self-examination or introspection:

My opinion:

Factory farms are an example of comparative advantage. We don’t want to witness the animal abuse, but we pay someone else to do it; as long as they keep it out of our sight/mind.

But once we come to knowledge of the consequences of our purchasing habits, we are guilty of sin.

Thank you!
All our actions matter, all our choices matter.