…yet another dietic study suggests that eating vegan is not only healthy, but healthiER than omni diets. Plus easier to maintain than counting calories. Imagine that. Of course I recommend a firm understanding and commitment to animal rights go with your vegan diet.
February 23, 2009...3:02 am
And in vegan news…
Jump to Comments
9 Comments
February 23, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I don’t think they’ve heard of veganism here in Wales. You’d be surprised what they do to food here. I saw a girl put ketchup on a pizza the other night.
Needless to say, I’ve resorted to my usual diet of oatmeal, corn flakes, and rice crispies.
February 23, 2009 at 6:10 pm
dear lord. ketchup on pizza sounds almost as gross as Poland Spring in soy milk! i hope you had a strongly worded chat with her. :)
February 26, 2009 at 6:04 pm
great news!
April 17, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Hi,
I just wanted to inform you that I have created a group entitled “The vegan Catholic” on Facebook. There are about ten of us at the present moment, but I’d be very glad if you joined.
Sincerely,
Jean-Francois Virey
April 17, 2009 at 5:15 pm
hi, jean-francois,
thanks for the invite! i’m certain the group will be fruitful ground for discussion and support. in two regards i best not join:
one is the premise that integrating catholicism and veganism requires
“Grounding veganism on Christian anthropology, which in modern parlance is speciesist. To deny that we should eat or exploit animals is not necessarily to assert that all species are equal. Even from a moral point of view, a man is not a cow, and a cow is not a fly.” this is equivalent to the proposition that, from a moral point of view, a gentile is not [equal to] a jew, a slave is not [equal to] a free person, a woman is not [equal to] a man. while there are certainly differences between a [hu]man and a cow, a cow and a fly–just as there are differences between a man and a woman–differences that in some spheres demand different treatment–if we are speaking of the moral weight of a creature’s suffering and/or death, i don’t see the “inequality.” while i wouldn’t want my doctor to prescribe treatment for me as if i were male in some attempt at sexual equality, and i wouldn’t suggest offering cows free public education because i think humans should have it, i don’t for a moment accept that this means humans and cows are not “equal” in any profound, moral way, or that males and females are not “equal,” etc.
on a related note, the group asks that one not join if they “Do not go to Church or disagree with the Church magisterium. If so, you may call yourself a Catholic, but you are not. My advice is either to find the accurate word to describe what you are, or to make what you are fit the definition of the word Catholic by submitting to the authority of the Church.” by your definition, i am not catholic. i do not recognize the magisterium’s authority, certainly not more than any other teacher’s authority. rigorous criticism of, and conflict with, authority are the only things that will enable the church to reconstitute itself, its ritual and institutions, in a way that allows it to remain alive and relevant. otherwise it will ossify and finally die with the elite classes from bygone stages of history who used it as a means of social control and hegemony. refusal to accept the teaching authority of the church has already been a vital weapon in rejecting the racism and sexism that the bible overtly supports. in my view, catholics ought to seek the revolutionary potential of their texts and traditions, those moments when their religion allows them to reject the status quo–a status quo that those set up in authority will inevitably seek to defend unless forced to do otherwise by vocal and self-educated masses [catholic pun!].
i do appreciate your taking the time to read and comment, as well as your thoughtful consideration of veganism and catholicism.
April 18, 2009 at 6:14 pm
I LOVE “catholics ought to seek the revolutionary potential of their texts and traditions” AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
I’ve started a group on Catholic Answers for Catholic Vegetarians and Vegans – http://forums.catholic.com/group.php?groupid=90, no requirement for church attendance, agreement with any specific teaching – I’ve even invited ominis who may have questions to join us…
I had started a thread discussing the way that I see a vegan diet fitting perfectly with Catholic Social Teaching… would LOVE to have comments from other Catholic Vegans here – many omnis and ranchers etc commenting – trying to be kind and appropriate…. your voices would also be welcome! http://forums.catholic.com/search.php?searchid=3173343
Ours is a radical faith! Calling us to be more… and this is why it just fit as I’ve learned, and learned, and learned —- I try to avoid the silly stuff that derails conversations – not always easy is it!
Peace to you, peace to all!
May 12, 2009 at 11:06 pm
this is a very interesting discussion! even tho i actually chose to become catholic, i’ve never had a problem disagreeing with the catholic church…thank you for helping me see that i have an important place in the church, not dispite my disagreement, but really BECAUSE of it!
May 12, 2009 at 11:32 pm
it is an interesting discussion, and one that needs to continue…
“thank you for helping me see that i have an important place in the church” — if you’re thanking ME, i think this is a little backward, since it was you who taught me dissent was necessary & valuable. if you’re thanking everybody else here posting, than indeed, i add my thanks!
May 22, 2009 at 8:28 pm
oh, i did teach you that? (and i failed to teach you the alphabet?! and ironically you have become a writer! but, anyone can learn the alphabet…you were born with the gift of imagination…and storytelling!)