Catholic Vegetarianism

[Joe_5859]

These threads always seem to go the same way…

I have no problem with people choosing to be vegans or vegetarians, even if they choose it for moral reasons. But, I do have a problem with implying that it is the only moral choice for a Catholic to make, mainly because the Church does not teach this.

Of course, I think we tend to get our lines crossed as we have some explaining their moral reasons for making this choice for themselves with others assuming that it is an unequivocal condemnation of all meat-eaters.

I think it’s also easy for us meat-eaters to feel “judged” by the vegans/vegetarians for not making their same choice, even if that is not at all their intent.

I would like to ask a very respectful question to those who eat meat.

Would there be something that if you learned it - something about the way your meat / dairy / eggs / fish - the animals raised for food and for their products- were raised and slaughtered - that would cause you to change your diet?

In all honesty, probably not. Unless someone came and told me that this specific cow or chicken I was about to eat was horribly mistreated before it died. Of course, in that situation, I would probably still eat it because wasting the food would not seem right to me either.

All the above being said. If we can ever figure out how to grow meat, which we will eventually do.

Okay, I am very intrigued. How could one “grow” meat? It might be just the motivation I need to finally start a garden.

 

[Brendan]

Okay, I am very intrigued. How could one “grow” meat? It might be just the motivation I need to finally start a garden.

That is something that is being investigated. It involves using procedures similar to those used to create skin cultures for burn victims.

You take muscle cells from a living animal an culture the cells, so more an more grow. What is producted is quantities of muscle tissue. It still doesn’t have the texture and flavor of meat, due to the lack of muscle excercise and marbling

telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/6684854/Scientists-grow-meat-in-laboratory.html

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

The issue is not whether it is legitimate to use animals as food, the issue is whether it is legitimate to eat animals raised under the cruel conditions of factory farming.

Not all factory farms are the same.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

On many of these threads I have shared that many people in my own family - who I love, who I also believe are good Catholics, do not make this choice.

Never have I said that I think it is wrong to eat animals and their products for others.
When I (me, myself and I) learned about the issues related to CAFO production of meat, diary, and eggs - and learned about the pollution and over fishing issues of eating fish (which for me was the last to go) - I felt I had to change. I am not sure I would have made this change if I were not Catholic.

What I am trying to understand with that long question I posted earlier in the thread is — for those who do eat meat, dairy, eggs, fish, etc… is it possible that you do not think that the pollution is an issue because a) you don’t believe it is impacting communities b) you think it is the only way to eat c) you don’t care d) … /

Is it possible that regarding the way animals are raised in CAFOs you a) don’t know about it b) don’t think it constitutes suffering for the animals c) don’t think it matters because you eat it d)…

Is it possible that regarding resources a) it is something you don’t know about b) think it is ok to use that much resources for your food c) don’t care d) …

So again - I am really trying to understand. I know everyone has a different place in how they would view this issue - but it is difficult for me to understand that once a Catholic individual has this information why they would not make a change - it is easier to ask here really than in some cases face to face with friends because then, yes it seems pushy and I certainly don’t want to do that, with them - or here on the threads either.

Blessing

The tone of your posts, at least to me, is that you have made the right choice and that my choice is wrong and that you believe that I must be educated to make the right choice.

This may not be intended but it is the way it comes off to me which is why I tend to leave these discussions after a few posts.

 

[Joe_5859]

That is something that is being investigated. It involves using procedures similar to those used to create skin cultures for burn victims.

You take muscle cells from a living animal an culture the cells, so more an more grow. What is producted is quantities of muscle tissue. It still doesn’t have the texture and flavor of meat, due to the lack of muscle excercise and marbling

telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/6684854/Scientists-grow-meat-in-laboratory.html

Very interesting. Thanks!

 

[Lypher]

Blessings to you Lypher! (curious about your name? - Life Teen involvement?)

Two reasons for the name:

Since going through RCIA, I am very pro-life and wanted a user name that kind of put that out there…

 

[4elise]

The tone of your posts, at least to me, is that you have made the right choice and that my choice is wrong and that you believe that I must be educated to make the right choice.

This may not be intended but it is the way it comes off to me which is why I tend to leave these discussions after a few posts.

It is the right choice for me.
And I have shared WHY it is the right choice for me.

I have tried to always be respectful of others who choice to eat meat - and if comes across in any way other than that I offer a very sincere apology.

In an unrelated subject but how learning something then makes it necessary to make changes - at least for me - when I learned about the production of coffee, how in many cases those working in the fields were indentured servants without land rights - how important forests were cleared for coffee fields because it was profitable to big companies - I now make it a point to only buy fair trade shade grown coffee - I drink less coffee because it cost a bit more - but this is a choice based on something I learned.

So the OP was making the correlation to the teaching of the Catholic church and something that we now know about the way many factory farms raise animals. This is why I was asking the question - would there be anything you would learn that would cause you to make a change? It is a sincere question that I offer in respect.

 

[4elise]

These threads always seem to go the same way…

I have no problem with people choosing to be vegans or vegetarians, even if they choose it for moral reasons. But, I do have a problem with implying that it is the only moral choice for a Catholic to make, mainly because the Church does not teach this.

Of course, I think we tend to get our lines crossed as we have some explaining their moral reasons for making this choice for themselves with others assuming that it is an unequivocal condemnation of all meat-eaters.

I think it’s also easy for us meat-eaters to feel “judged” by the vegans/vegetarians for not making their same choice, even if that is not at all their intent.

In all honesty, probably not. Unless someone came and told me that this specific cow or chicken I was about to eat was horribly mistreated before it died. Of course, in that situation, I would probably still eat it because wasting the food would not seem right to me either.

Thank you for answering.
I appreciate your honesty. I sometimes wish I could come up with the same outlook - but for whatever reason I can’t make that leap anymore.

You are right these discussions do seem to go the same way - perhaps it would be easier face to face… but then I really never want to make someone feel uncomfortable with my understanding of what I should or should not eat.

But one who eats meat I guess would never be moved by these discussions? It was what I learned that made me make a change - so I guess it is possible.

Blessings

 

[Joe_5859]

Thank you for answering.
I appreciate your honesty. I sometimes wish I could come up with the same outlook - but for whatever reason I can’t make that leap anymore.

You are right these discussions do seem to go the same way - perhaps it would be easier face to face… but then I really never want to make someone feel uncomfortable with my understanding of what I should or should not eat.

But one who eats meat I guess would never be moved by these discussions? It was what I learned that made me make a change - so I guess it is possible.

Blessings

I guess I should never say never…

I do understand where you’re coming from, though. Finding out more information about how meat makes it to the supermarket, or how coffee is produced, or even how most of our clothing is made, can be a none-too-pleasant experience. I probably should take such things more seriously, but there’s so many other things on my plate at this stage in my life that I feel I would go mad if I had to check every clothing label or food package and do a bunch of research before buying every pair of socks or bag of shredded cheese. It seems like the same uphill battle taken on by those who research to make every effort not to give a nickel to any company or person where part of the profit may somewhere along the line go to some person or group that supports abortion. But then, if no one looks into such things or takes action on it, how can we expect change to happen?

I do always enjoy your posts, 4elise. I know you have spent a great deal of time looking into these things and you always come across (to me at least) as very respectful. I appreciate that.

 

[sfocatholic]

I too am Catholic and lacto ovo vegetarian. I agree that although God gave us the animals He never insisted that we eat them. I feel that vegetarianism is a a part of who I am. God also gave us many delicious alternatives to meat and even without them I could never eat a living creature.

 

[4elise]

I guess I should never say never…

I do understand where you’re coming from, though. Finding out more information about how meat makes it to the supermarket, or how coffee is produced, or even how most of our clothing is made, can be a none-too-pleasant experience. I probably should take such things more seriously, but there’s so many other things on my plate at this stage in my life that I feel I would go mad if I had to check every clothing label or food package and do a bunch of research before buying every pair of socks or bag of shredded cheese. It seems like the same uphill battle taken on by those who research to make every effort not to give a nickel to any company or person where part of the profit may somewhere along the line go to some person or group that supports abortion. But then, if no one looks into such things or takes action on it, how can we expect change to happen?

I do always enjoy your posts, 4elise. I know you have spent a great deal of time looking into these things and you always come across (to me at least) as very respectful. I appreciate that.

Thanks Joe - I do know what you mean about too much on ones plate ---- as I learned about this stuff I sometimes just had to take a break! And then again some of it I really didn’t want to know - and still wish I didn’t know! I too am grateful for your respectful posts not only on this topic… but some of the others where we cross paths! Blessings to you and yours

 

[soma]

I am a Catholic Vegetarian because it makes my mind peaceful and my body healthy. These are my reasons for this choice.

 

[4elise]

I am a Catholic Vegetarian because it makes my mind peaceful and my body healthy. These are my reasons for this choice.

I would have to agree with you that I certainly feel healthier since switching - but the peacefulness that came along was unexpected - I’ve just found this web site nonviolenceunited.org/ and thought some of what they share is really valuable on the topic of peacefulness and ones food choice…

Blessings!