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PETA Follow this link for a very comprehensive analysis of PETA's outlook and activities, including an article "PETA versus Trappist Monks: http://www.petawatch.com/ MP Gerry Byrne thinks PETA could fit into the Canadian definition of a terrorist organization. Catholic League President Bill Donahue calls PETA a fraud catholic-church-calls-out-peta http://www.causecast.org/news_items/9367-usda-lists-peta-as-a-terrorist-group http://siouxsielaw.com/2009/12/10/war-on-terror-expanded-to-include-chalk-wielding-peta-members/ http://hiphopwired.com/2009/12/02/peta-a-terrorist-organization/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/02/usda-classifies-peta-as-a_n_376841.html http://current.com/items/91585340_peta-classified-as-a-terrorist-threat-by-the-usda.htm PETA, while it talks to us as the voice of the Catholic community,
has also upset a lot of Catholics with some of its ads. For samples see this link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/16/a-decade-of-scandalous-pe_n_388741.html Some facts about Our
Lady of Calvary Trappist Monastery in Rogersville and the farm it operates are clear. It is a progressive farm, regulated
and inspected like all others in New Brunswick, and it is so well run it was recognized as Farm of the Year by the National
Farmers Union in 2008. There is nothing untoward going on there, nor any animal abuse. These facts make it an odd target for
the radical American outfit that calls itself the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which despite its name
operates on some rather dubious ethics. There are much better targets where they could do real good. But PETA is more concerned
with turning all humanity into strict vegetarians, not to mention sustaining itself via a long-standing strategy of being
outrageous to create maximum publicity and donations than anything else. Following U.S. President Barack Obama swatting a
pesky fly during a TV interview in June, it accused him of "executive insect execution." And it wants to be taken
seriously? These self-appointed activists don't promote their cause so much as harass innocent people going about their
legitimate lives. PETA is harassing the monks. The monks should not bow to such bullies. PETA attack is wickedness To
The Editor: As the author of the History of the Abbey of Our Lady of Calvary in Rogersville, published by the monks
in 2002 to mark their 100th anniversary, I have more than a passing knowledge of this spiritual and material life. I even
stayed with the monks, in cloisters, when writing the book. Therefore, I am astounded by the sheer impudence of "People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" (PETA) who have the unmitigated effrontery to mount an unfounded attack on these
men of God. In May 1903, the fledgling community was incorporated by an Act of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
under the name: The Model Farm and Agricultural School of Rogersville, N.B. The monastery has certainly been, and continues
to be, a model farm although the agricultural and school never materialized. Just days before the monks arrived in Rogersville,
at the end of October 1902, a Saint John newspaper, The Freeman, wrote correctly that the Trappists "are considered the
best farmers and most competent educators in agriculture, the world over. They work themselves, and their model farms wherever
they are established are a credit to any country." Certainly the Trappists' farm in Rogersville continues to
be, 108 years after its foundation, a credit to New Brunswick and to Canada. They have been and are true role models by their
outstanding example as corporate citizens. Rogersville in particular has continuously benefitted from the monks' presence,
both spiritually and materially. This brazen assault on the integrity of the monks is unspeakable behaviour. Every citizen
of New Brunswick should be outraged by such shameless insolence by a group of ill-informed do-gooders. As a former journalist
and briefly as a professor of journalism, may I suggest that The Times & Transcript would do its readers a favour were
it to find out and tell us what is exactly PETA, where is it headquartered, who and what funds its activities? Also, we would
like to know something of the backgrounds of Bruce Friedrich, David Perle and Don Paden, identified respectively as vice president,
spokesman (sic) and senior research associate. What exactly is a "senior research associate"? Are these stalwarts
devotees of ethics paid and, if so, how much and by whom? The monks do not need lessons in ethics but they might legitimately
ask why such holier-than-thou persons visited the monks' property surreptitiously. Trespassing is not only unethical,
it is criminal conduct. The good folks of Rogersville, descendants of rugged and honest pioneers, know perfectly well that
the monks have nothing whatever to hide. To suggest otherwise is aberrant wickedness. Dr. Robert Pichette, ONB,
D ès L, Moncton Leave our monks alone To The Editor: To PETA, animal rights
group, I don't think you should have the right to tell the Abbott of the Rogersville Monastery how to run and care for
their farm. They have been the business since long before you guys were around. They are doing a good job taking care of themselves
and their animals. Butt out and leave them alone. M.L. LeBlanc, Moncton No mistreatment
of any animals To The Editor: I am currently a temporary guest in the Guest House of Our Lady of Calvary
Monastery in Rogersville. From my window I can see the beauty of the snow that has fallen overnight and covers the apple
orchard. In the distance are the new heifer barn, the large chicken facility, and, of course, the dairy barn. After
Mass this morning, I took a walk about the farm as I usually do and then I returned to the Guest House to settle down to a
nice warm cup of coffee and the morning's Times & Transcript. There on the first page was your latest article
on PETA taking another unwarranted shot at this monastic farm. I read the article thoroughly; not once but twice. Then I exclaimed
in a loud voice "bull!" but dear Brother Henry sipping his tea reminded me that there are no bulls on this farm.
Pity, I thought, after reading this article, they would have been appropriate. Later in the day, I just happened to
watch for the postal delivery. I expected to see a large van pull up to disgorge at least some of the 5,000 letters Father
Abbot is supposed to receive. The elderly monks were all in a line running from the porter's reception area down the hall,
turning right before the entrance to the Chapel to Father Abbot's office door. They were waiting to hand pass all these
expected sacks of mail. Thanks be to Heaven, it was a light delivery. In fact, the deliveries before the holidays were
light too. The deluge simply has not appeared. These people make a great to do about having taken a video of animals
supposedly being mistreated. Those who have seen the video say that it shows nothing at all except a few chickens in the main
barn that is far larger than necessary because the monks can't afford the cost of acquiring additional quota so, in reality,
there is no over-crowding or mistreatment. Another stretch of film supposedly shows the new heifer hutches. Again, in reality,
a very newly constructed barn with absolutely no over-crowding or any form of animal mistreatment. Farming has been
a tradition among many monastic orders down through the millennia. Many of these farms have been model farms helping local
farming communities adopt new and improved techniques and systems. As I walk around this farm I have never seen an animal
mistreated. This farm is as modern as any in the province and it adheres to all guidelines provided by the Government of Canada
and appropriate associations. The farm is regularly inspected by Department of Agriculture authorities. My question
is who is PETA? It is not a Canadian Organization. Who pays it's people? Presumably, it is the donations derived
from the general public who are fed self-serving information much of which is hyped to tug at sympathetic purse strings. The
reality is that this monastic farm is far smaller than some of the farms operating in the Province of New Brunswick. These
monks, like any farming family, have the right to earn a living by the sweat of their labours. My advice to the press
is very simply this: if you believe that there is a story in this, then get on the phone call Father Bede and ask to come
up to see the place. Unlike PETA, there would be no need for your reporter to skulk in the grass or hide in snowbanks. I
am certain that your people will come away with the impression of a very modern farm, adhering to all the rules with absolutely
no mistreatment of the animals under their care. Seán L. Tobin, Moncton |
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