Priests Starving Cats

I plan to attempt to contact the head of the Catholic church in New York, H.E. Timothy Cardinal Dolan concerning the despicable behavior of these priests. He is a man who is everything these priests are not, someone who has the love of Christ dwelling richly in him. Back when he was the Archbishop of Milwaukee I had the honor and privilege of meeting him when the school where I was teaching music was invited to come celebrate Mass with him at the cathedral downtown. They let me play the organ! He was so kind to me. His brother, Bob, used to be on the radio here and after hearing stories about “his brother the bishop” for years, I kind of felt I knew the archbishop already. I believe he would help, so I plan to look into finding his contact information. I’m glad I remembered him, because it reminded me that there are some Christians out there who are able to preach Christ crucified by their deeds as well as through their words.

These priests can debate what humans owe other species on the planet according to the Bible’s teachings, but the Bible is mote than clear as to what will happen to those who cause others to fall away from Christ. How will this story affect children who hear it? What will be their impression of Christ and His church when they hear that those who stand in Christ’s place, His very messengers on earth, are starving poor, helpless kitties. This story is out there. As the priest’s heartlessness towards these cats becomes known people will be turned off by it. Turned off enough to be driven away from Christ. We cannot decide to believe in Jesus or not– faith comes through the Word by the working of the Holy Spirit. But we can choose whether or not to walk in the door of a church, to seek help from the church in a moment of physical or spiritual need, to pick up a Bible and read it or not. If all I knew of Christianity was the report of the behavior of these priests I know I’d stay as far away from it as possible. Christ says if anyone causes someone (“one of these little ones”) to fall away from Him it would be better for him if a mill stone were tied around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea. I’m sure there are plenty of humans who would like to get their hands around the necks of these priests right now! But it’s not not human vengeance they have to worry about. They need to repent and start to demonstrate Christ’s love. Starving these cats is upsetting to lots of people and the priests should have considered that, even if they don’t have respect for animals. They should have greater respect for the sensibilities of the souls in their care at the very least, and give consideration for not only how their actions will cause suffering for the cats but how the bad PR will hurt their mission to bring Christ’s message to people. They are preaching a very different “gospel” by their actions. Faith without good works is dead. I question whether these priests know Christ at all.

Apparently the uproar has prompted an archdiocese meeting to resolve the matter. These priests have forgotten what priests are meant to do.

“If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.”—Francis of Assisi.

Them priests need to be taught a lesson about humanity but Im afraid some religious people I know dont care about cats like we do who come here. They need to read their Bibles a bit more instead of showing off at Church and being holier than thou.
Ed

I love that from the Gospel of the Holy Twelve. The cruel priests need to read that.
They are surely supposed to follow in Jesus Christ’s footsteps.
Starving those cats says to me they are not doing so and are not fit to be priests.

This needs media attention. Contact the papers and TV, and Alley Cat Allies.

Put the priests outside. No food, no money. Forbid anyone helping them on pain of the police as they did to the caretaker.

The references said the rats are terrible except in the direct vicinity of the church. Those cats are earning their keep.

Did you send your blog to the priests? The scripture you quote should convince them!

I lived in New York City for over a year. If anybody’s lived there long enough they know there’s a problem with rats that appear to be the size of a Buick.
In the place where I lived during that 2003 blackout of the TriState Area, our friend’s cat El Dorado caught a mouse and was eating it while we had to scarf down as many peanuts as we could find, b/c all the stores perishables perished.
You mean they live in New York City and DON’T know there are gigantic rats and bugs to match?
Cats eat bugs too.

I find the priest’s behaviour both sad and very upsetting. I cannot understand or want to believe that these priests would willing starve any creature or indeed would wish them to leave the area under any circumstance.
All I can think is that these priests do not believe in or practice what they preach….

There is a book called “The Gospel of the Holy Twelve” said to be a translation of an early Christian document found in a Buddhist monastery in Tibet. One legend in it seems to be among those things left out of the Bible when they ought to have been put in, for they bring before us the mind of Jesus Christ much more clearly than some other recordings by the disciples.

“As Jesus entered a certain village, He saw a young cat which had none to care for her, and she was hungry and cried unto Him, and He took her up, and put her inside His garment, and she lay in His bosom. And when He came into the village He set food and drink before the cat, and she ate and drank, and showed thanks unto Him. And He gave her unto one of His disciples, who was a widow, whose name was Lorenza, and she took care of her. And some of the people said, “This man careth for all creatures. Are they His brothers and sisters that He should love them?” And He said unto them, “Verily, these are your fellow creatures, of the great Household of God; yea they are brothers and sisters, having the same breath of life in the Eternal. And whosoever careth for one of the least of these, and giveth it to eat and drink in it’s need the same doeth it unto me; and whosoever willingly suffereth one of these creatures to be in want, and defendeth it not when evilly treated, suffereth the evil as done unto me.”

Being a Christian I believe God is watching this situation and others. What I believe is if an individual would deliberately withhold food or water from an animal if they can help they would do it to a human. Maybe I am wrong and I am not anyone’s judge but I find it sad. It is like giving something in one hand and taking it back in the other.

God created all things. These ferals are out there through no fault of their own.

We put food out for some ferals in our area and I couldn’t do that to them, as I couldn’t live with myself. These little souls depend on some food where they can find it and liquid, water and a kind word and if you can’t see fit to do it then don’t start something you can’t finish.

Our little pet family gets what they need to best of my ability.

God be with these dear ferals.

These gentleman, priests should read Job 12 and take note.

This does not surprise me. Priests are no better behaved and no different to anyone else. They have all the usual failings and strengths. The church does seem to attract pedaphiles however because they work with children.

Anyway, something similar happened here in London, not with cats but people. The clergy at St. Pauls Cathedral wanted to clear out the Occupy London protestors. This was late last year and the early part of this year (2012).

It dawned on them late in the day that the prostestors were being more Christian in their behavior than the clergy of the famous St. Pauls Cathedral. The Cathedral charges for entrance and has a restaurant in the crypt that charges. It is commercial – the money changers had occupied this mighty symbol of Christianity.

They changed their mind but too late to stop people realising that the church is part of the establishment and they simply want to keep the status quo and not have anything upset that even feral cats and protestors.

In the instance you describe, Elisa, the priests are showing their true colors: mean spirited and not godly or compassionate.