Whale Wars

[scaron]

The “Animal Planet” cable network has begun running a new series called “Whale Wars”. It is the story of an environmentalist group called the “Sea Sheppards” who believe in taking direct action to stop legal Japanese whaling in the Great South Ocean.

Most of the crew of their boat are volunteers. On the show it was stated that to be accepted as a volunteer, you must be able to make the statement, “I would be willing to die to save the life of a whale.”

My question is, from the POV of Catholic moral theology, is this a moral or an immoral statement?

 

[JPUSC]

The “Animal Planet” cable network has begun running a new series called “Whale Wars”. It is the story of an environmentalist group called the “Sea Sheppards” who believe in taking direct action to stop legal Japanese whaling in the Great South Ocean.

Most of the crew of their boat are volunteers. On the show it was stated that to be accepted as a volunteer, you must be able to make the statement, “I would be willing to die to save the life of a whale.”

My question is, from the POV of Catholic moral theology, is this a moral or an immoral statement?

Human life is more valuable than a whale, so I don’t think that statement is correct. As for its morality, I don’t really think its compatible with Catholic teaching.

 

[scaron]

Human life is more valuable than a whale, so I don’t think that statement is correct. As for its morality, I don’t really think its compatible with Catholic teaching.

Right. This is also my position. The animals and other resources of the Earth are given to mankind for our use by God in Genesis. We have a responsibility to be faithful stewards of this material bounty. But in no way can a material, created thing be worth the cost of a human life, made in the image and likeness of God.

Frankly, I thought this was an easy question, from the point of view of Catholic Morality

but when I put it to a group of instructors and participants in my parish’s RCIA program, most thought it was a moral position - to sacrifice a life for a whale. I was very surprised.

 

[aggiecatholic05]

i would view it as an immoral statement. but in the interest of full disclousure i do not view whaling as an immoral activity. assuming it is done the same as fishing or hunting, in the most humane way possible and at a sustainable rate then its fine. intelligent as they may be whales are still just animals.

 

[JPUSC]

Right. This is also my position. The animals and other resources of the Earth are given to mankind for our use by God in Genesis. We have a responsibility to be faithful stewards of this material bounty. But in no way can a material, created thing be worth the cost of a human life, made in the image and likeness of God.

Frankly, I thought this was an easy question, from the point of view of Catholic Morality

but when I put it to a group of instructors and participants in my parish’s RCIA program, most thought it was a moral position - to sacrifice a life for a whale. I was very surprised.

I wouldn’t worry too much about what the instructors in your parish RCIA program said. Based on the recent election, I don’t think many Catholics even know what’s moral anymore.

You can lay down your life for another person as St. Gianna Beretta Molla did for her child, but you can’t do the same for an animal. That’s just silly. The show sounds like it was made by some extremist animal rights activists.

 

[bilop]

The “Animal Planet” cable network has begun running a new series called “Whale Wars”. It is the story of an environmentalist group called the “Sea Sheppards” who believe in taking direct action to stop legal Japanese whaling in the Great South Ocean.

Most of the crew of their boat are volunteers. On the show it was stated that to be accepted as a volunteer, you must be able to make the statement, “I would be willing to die to save the life of a whale.”

My question is, from the POV of Catholic moral theology, is this a moral or an immoral statement?

Immoral. It’s a form of idolatry, I believe, worshipping nature as if it were God.

God Bless

 

[scaron]

I wouldn’t worry too much about what the instructors in your parish RCIA program said. Based on the recent election, I don’t think many Catholics even know what’s moral anymore.

You can lay down your life for another person as St. Gianna Beretta Molla did for her child, but you can’t do the same for an animal. That’s just silly. The show sounds like it was made by some extremist animal rights activists.

Just FYI, I am one of the instructors. Working hard to raise the level of education and morality!

You are certainly right regarding the extremism. Frankly, it takes my breath away that such a thing is shown on television. It is straight-up Eco-Terrorism. This group claims to be non-violent, then throws bottles of acid onto the deck of a whaling ship with crewmen all around.

They have a special powder that they also throw on-board the whalers. When mixed with water on a wet deck, it forms a substance so slippery that it is impossible to stand up. On a pitching ship’s deck, in 60 deg latitude in the Great South Ocean, with 30 degree water all around. If a crewman slips overboard, they are dead. Period. No way to get a ship around in time and pull a sailor out of the water to keep them from freezing.

But I deliberately did not want to get into the morality of the Sea Shepard movement. They are unquestionably immoral and undefendable from any sane viewpoint. What peaked my interest was the statement, “I would give up my life for (fill in the blank non-human item - whale, dolphin, tree, etc).”

Immoral. It’s a form of idolatry, I believe, worshipping nature as if it were God.

You nailed it, and I wish I had been thinking in these terms in class. If the statement was “I’d gladly give up my life for that molten calf” we’d all have seen the idolatry.

Thanks bilop!

Sean

 

[bilop]

You nailed it, and I wish I had been thinking in these terms in class. If the statement was “I’d gladly give up my life for that molten calf” we’d all have seen the idolatry.

Thanks bilop!

Sean

You’re very welcome!

God Bless and keep up the good work!

 

[chaz0426]

I agree that attacking whaling ships is crossing the line and so is sacrificing your life for a whale.

But I grew up loving animals since I was an infant and I’ve always believed in the cruelty involved in poaching and whaling and even some forms of hunting when populations are few numbered.

Is it wrong to respect and charish all living things as a Catholic?

I know they are there and were put there for us by God but does that mean we need to kill them to extinction or use higher evolved life forms like whales and dolphins for things we don’t really need or have other options for in today’s world and society?

I’m curious.

I don’t believe it is wrong or against Catholic morality to call to an end for such things as whaling and poaching but attacking whaling ships to do so is crossing the line and is an act of eco- terrorism at sea. They could kill a whaler in those acts which is murder no matter what the circumstances.

 

[Dale_M]

I went to their website, and see that one of their ships is flying a skull and crossbones flag.
seashepherd.org/who-we-are/
Do all of their ships fly a pirate flag or just this ship, or is the flag in the photo just for publicity?

On the show it was stated that to be accepted as a volunteer, you must be able to make the statement, “I would be willing to die to save the life of a whale.”?

That might be just for TV purposes. I don’t see anything like that in their volunteer crew application.
seashepherd.org/documents/get-involved/crew_application_01.pdf

 

[scaron]

All of their ships fly a “skull and crossbones” motif, although its not actually crossbones - it is I think a harpoon crossed with a shepherd’s staff.

The “I would give my life for a whale” statement is repeated on every broadcast, that I have seen, in dialog.

Last week, two Sea Shepherd crew members risked their lives to jump from a zodiac boat onto one of the whalers. The same whaler they had been bombarding with acid and “slippery powder”, and the same whaler they repeatedly tried to disable by running a cable into the propeller. Don’t know the effects of deliberately fouling the propeller of a 100’ long ship running 20+ knots through the ocean, but I’m sure it cant be good.

Anyway, once these crew members were succesfully on board, they notified the world’s press that the Japanese had “kidnapped” them, and started an international incident between Australia (where I believe the Sea Shepherd vessel, the Steve Irwin is registered), and Japan. They also accused the Japanese of trying to throw their crew members overboard.

To get these two crewmembers to “volunteer”, the Captain of the Sea Shepherd repeatedly berated the entire volunteer crew, stating, “If you are not willing to do this, to risk death, or extended imprisonment and trial for piracy in Japan, you should not be here”. It is absolutely part of their movement.

With regard to the aim of stopping whaling, you might be in favor of it, and I might not necessarily disagree. If this is your position, I encourage you to use every legal means to persuade the government of Japan (and I believe Norway also allows whaling - not sure) to change this policy. However the point of the post is to discuss the willingness to endanger, and possibly throw away, human lives to save a particular whale, a group of whales in the South Ocean, or whales in general, and the morality of that position.

Finally, you might ask, if I find their position so abhorrent, and I believe (as I do) that the Sea Shepherds are a profoundly immoral organization, as I understand Catholic morality, why do I watch the show?

And tho nobody asked it, I think this is a GREAT question, and I wish I had an answer. I need to think about this. Right now it is the equivalent of watching a train wreck - horrible, but fascinating, and not a level of “evil called good” that you see everyday. In my conscience, I believe this is not a good enough reason.

 

[Dale_M]

Finally, you might ask, if I find their position so abhorrent, and I believe (as I do) that the Sea Shepherds are a profoundly immoral organization, as I understand Catholic morality, why do I watch the show?

I don’t think anyone would fault you for watching, simply because its human nature to want to know about extreme situations. But the Sea Shepard’s volunteer crew application does state that by signing the form, an applicant is giving permission to be filmed. So I think the TV show is may be an important source of revenue. Perhaps sponsors of the show should be persuaded not to advertise on it?

I would say the Sea Sheperds is an immoral organization from a Catholic standpoint, according to their actions and their philosophy. And I would say an unethical organization from a secular standpoint.

 

[Caesar517]

Last week, two Sea Shepherd crew members risked their lives to jump from a zodiac boat onto one of the whalers. The same whaler they had been bombarding with acid and “slippery powder”, and the same whaler they repeatedly tried to disable by running a cable into the propeller. Don’t know the effects of deliberately fouling the propeller of a 100’ long ship running 20+ knots through the ocean, but I’m sure it cant be good.

Anyway, once these crew members were succesfully on board, they notified the world’s press that the Japanese had “kidnapped” them, and started an international incident between Australia (where I believe the Sea Shepherd vessel, the Steve Irwin is registered), and Japan. They also accused the Japanese of trying to throw their crew members overboard.

I would have thrown these lunatics overboard right away. Frankly, if they were attacking my ship and endangering my life and the lives of my crew, lethal force would not be out of the question.

 

[aggiecatholic05]

I would have thrown these lunatics overboard right away. Frankly, if they were attacking my ship and endangering my life and the lives of my crew, lethal force would not be out of the question.

doesn’t japan have a navy? if i were a ship captain i’d be demanding to get my taxes worth and be protected. let the japanese navy sink all the pirate ships they launch over the next few years and see if there is still a problem.

 

[Eucharisted]

I’m not surprised this is being shown on TV. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Catholics and Protestants bombarded the FCC and Animal Planet with angry letters. I know the media would make a huge fuss over this too, but I’m sure the show would be cancelled anyways since what the guys are doing is eco-terrorism. My prayers go out to the whalers and to the terrorists, that the Lord may forgive them their sins, save them from Hell, and lead them into Heaven.

 

[aggiecatholic05]

I’m not surprised this is being shown on TV.

while i may not like it, i dont think anything on tv would suprise me anymore. if they think it can make them money or advance their agenda they will show it.

complaining does seem like a good idea though. a wave of letters saying how offensive it is may sway the fcc, and it could definately sway advertisers. why support compainies that are supporting terriorists.

 

[roanoker]

I watched it, and in my opinion those people are eco-terrorists, and somewhat wacky to boot. I hope its not government grants funding those operations-they must cost a bundle!

 

[Rleng616]

Killing those whales (IMHO) is immoral. I believe in the general principles of the Sea Shepherds - The slaughtering of the whales is disgusting. I do not believe the Sea Shepherds are eco terrorists.

 

[aggiecatholic05]

Killing those whales (IMHO) is immoral. I believe in the general principles of the Sea Shepherds - The slaughtering of the whales is disgusting. I do not believe the Sea Shepherds are eco terrorists.

i can agree that ecoterrorist isnt a good term. i just call them terrorists.

when you attack someones property and their person, even to the point of killing them just for disagreeing with you thats a terrorist. trade out prowhale hunting and put in americian, then what is the difference between them and bin laden?

as to if the whaling itself is moral well that is subjective to me. if it is done as humanely as possible with as little waste as possible then i disagree and would consider it the same as any other hunting or fishing.

now if it isnt done like that THEN i could see it as an immoral act, but so is any hunting/fishing that isnt done humanely or is wasteful.

 

[Rleng616]

aggiecatholic05
I see your point.
However, I didn’t see killing / murder as the intent of Sea Shepherd. I view Sea Shepherd as assertively protesting, defending and attempting to save 1000 whales from being butchered “in the name of science”. Sea Shepherd is defending the lives of these beautiful creatures who are helpless in defending themselves.

Bob