Church in criticism: Hubertusmesse or animal dress in the name of God?

Church in criticism: Hubertusmesse or animal dress in the name of God?

An outcry of outrage: On Sunday, November 10th, a Hubertus mass will be celebrated in the St. Elisabeth church in the Opladen district. PETA, the animal rights organization, raises the alarm and criticizes the Catholic parish of St. Remigius Scharf. These trade fairs, which take place annually to honor Saint Hubertus of Liège, attract especially hunters and, according to PETA, legitimize the cruel hunting. The organization calls on the church managers to distance themselves from these violent ceremonies.

"to organize a service that symbolically gives hunting the blessing for the senseless killing of defenseless fellow creatures, sends a completely wrong signal," explains Peter Höffken from Peta. He emphasizes that the church should stand up for the protection of creation, not for its destruction. Hubertus, who was once known as a hunter, turned away from hunting after a divine encounter and became an opponent of this practice. PETA appeals to those responsible to recognize the cruelty and senselessness of the hunting.

Grauen reality of the driven hunts

Reality in driven hunts is terrifying: According to the Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare, up to two thirds of the wild animals do not immediately hunting. The animals flee with shot bones and serious injuries and often suffer for days before they die painfully. These brutal practices stand in stark contrast to the ethical values of Christianity, which preaches mercy and respect for life.

The hunt is considered unnecessary and cruel by many experts. The biologist Prof. Dr. Josef Reichholf explains that nature regulates itself and that no hunting is required. An example of this is the canton of Geneva, where hobby hunt has been prohibited for over 40 years and the animal populations stabilize naturally. Dr. Karl-Heinz Loske, a recognized landscape ecologist, only sees a superfluous hobby in hunting that satisfies the desire to kill and has nothing to do with real nature conservation.