PETA protests pig roast

[Guest guest]

Do forgive me for sharing this type of news article with you, if all you want

are

recipes. I find them interesting enough, and was quite intrigued by a few facts

contained in this one. I was previously unaware of how intelligent pigs were.

More than dog? And this article mentioned they play video games better than

primates? Hmmmm. Learn something new every day. Go Wilber! *lol*

~ P_T ~

 

-- A local church pig roast will go on as planned despite protest from a

national animal rights organization.

The annual Country Fair and Pig Roast at Hibernia United Methodist Church,

in the 200 block of Hibernia Road, will still occur Saturday as planned, said a

church official, despite a planned protest by members ofPeople for the

Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

In a letter sent to the pastor of the church Monday, a representative of PETA

requested the roast portion of the event be canceled. In turn, Bruce Friedrich,

director of PETA's vegan outreach and author of the letter, offered to send

vegetarian chili and veggie dogs to be served in place of the cooked meat.

But the Rev. David T. McMillan, reached at his church Wednesday, said he

has no plans to cancel the event. He also said he had no comment on

PETA's request.

As of Thursday evening, he had not responded directly to PETA either.

" I find it shocking that they wouldn't respond to our letter, " said Joe Haptas,

PETA campaign coordinator. " It's as if they almost feel guilty. "

The founder of the Methodist church, John Wesley, was a vegetarian, a fact

prominently featured in both the letter to McMillan as well as the posting on

PETA's Web site asking for people to contact the church and request the

event be canceled.

" I find it amazing they wouldn't follow Wesley's lead, " said Haptas.

With no response from McMillan, Haptas said PETA representatives will

travel to the church Saturday with signs, posters, a Jesus impersonator and

perhaps vegetarian food to hand out.

His hope, he said, is to make some people see PETA's side.

But it may be that PETA has already reached some of the church members.

According to Friedrich, PETA first became aware of the roast after a church

member requested the organization's help.

" I got a call from a church member who had spoken with other members who

felt it was wrong to host a pig roast. So we put together the letter based on

that, " he said.

The church member refused to be identified and declined to answer

questions from the media.

The letter to McMillan Friedrich asked not only that the roast be canceled but

that McMillan would " pledge to never again include the slaughter of animals

in any event you host or sponsor. "

In addition to pointing out the conditions in which pigs are raised,

transported and slaughtered, Friedrich also turned to the religious aspects in

his letter to McMillan.

" Mr. Wesley recognized that all God's creatures should be protected from

abuse and exploitation, " he wrote.

He added that pigs were meant for things other than nourishment. " God

designed pigs to play with one another, root around in the soil, forage for

food and enjoy God's glory, " he wrote. " These animals are even more

intelligent than dogs, and, believe it or not, research studies have found that

they can actually play video games more competently than some primates. "

In addition to the letter, PETA also put an " Action Alert " on the Internet

explaining the cause and asking people to write and call the church in

protest. On Monday, PETA posted the church address along with McMillan's

home number, according to Friedrich. But after receiving a phone request

from McMillan's wife to post the church number instead, PETA complied.

Despite the number being replaced, by Tuesday morning McMillan's home

number was disconnected. Friedrich said he was unsure if this had to do

with the posting.

McMillan wouldn't comment.