From the Revd Jennifer Brown, the Revd Dr Helen Hall, and
the Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS
Sir, - We read with great interest the thought-provoking
report on the slaughter of animals in accordance with kosher and
halal requirements, and the comments made by prominent church
leaders on the recent Danish ban (News, 28 February). As
members of a religious animal-welfare organisation, we see the
issues raised as very important.
All debates that turn on justice and competing freedoms are
complex and, quite rightly, arouse strong feelings. If we are to
make progress towards a positive resolution, we have to be clear
about the questions at stake.
Taken in their full context, neither the statements of the
bishops nor those of the Danish authorities suggest that one type
of rights should automatically and inevitably defeat another. The
dilemma is not whether religious liberty or animal welfare is more
important.
The real issue is whether a particular restriction imposed by a
democratically elected government on very specific religious
practices is appropriate, desirable, and in accordance with
Denmark's international obligations. Denmark is a party to the
European Convention on Human Rights; so robust protection is in
place. Article 9 (2) of the ECHR ensures that states can only limit
the manifestation of religious beliefs in so far as doing so is a
necessary and proportionate means of pursuing a legitimate social
aim. If individuals or faith groups in that country believe that a
fair balance has not been struck in this case, they are free to
challenge this in court.
Therefore, characterising this ban as a threat to religious
freedom is neither helpful nor appropriate. Whether it is a welcome
development, however, is a matter for dialogue. We would broadly
support the change in Denmark, while conceding that the situation
is still far from ideal. The new law may simply lead to the
importation of kosher and halal meat, in some instances from
regions where there is little oversight of the slaughtering process
and where there are few laws governing animal-welfare
standards.
Nevertheless, the fact that the Danish agriculture minister
wishes to reduce suffering among animals being slaughtered for
their meat is something that, we feel, Christians should support,
not denigrate. Animals have no ability to speak up for themselves,
and are completely in our power and at our mercy. The fact that
they are "merely dumb animals" over whom we can exercise our will
with impunity only increases the need for us to have regard for
their well-being and to treat them with compassion.
We believe that there must be room within interfaith dialogue to
comment on issues over which we disagree or have concerns. As
Christians, we need to speak not only out of the heritage that we
share with the other Abrahamic faiths, but also from the unique
perspective of the teachings of Jesus. When faced with the choice
between relieving suffering or adhering to accepted religious
practice, Jesus made it clear that the former took precedence over
the latter (Luke 6.6-11 and 13.10-17). Should we not, therefore,
take the same approach?
Jennifer Brown, Helen Hall, Dominic Walker on behalf of the
Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals
PO Box 7193, Hook
Hampshire RG27 8GT
From the Revd Keith Trivasse
Sir, - The Danish ban on kosher and halal animal slaughter
should be a matter of concern for all peoples of faith. This ban is
the latest of a number of bans upon kosher and halal slaughter
across the European Union. There have been similar moves to ban
male circumcision. Frequently, the claim is made that the bans are
stopping cruel or abusive practices dressed up in the language of
rights; the Danish agriculture minister Dan Jørgensen does appear
to have said that animal rights come before religious rights.
Such claims mask an underlying current of anti-Semitic and
Islamophobic thought. All of these moves undermine the human right
to practise freely the believer's religion. Christians should be
acting with the Jewish and Muslim communities to uphold the right
to freedom of religion.
Peoples of faith should be working together to make sure that
Islamophobic and anti-Semitic manoeuvres are challenged, and we
enable the negotiation of the right to be a Christian, or a Muslim,
or a Jew within secularising societies.
KEITH TRIVASSE
St Paul's Vicarage
Fir Street, Bury BL9 7QG