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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPriests Starving Feral Cats In NYC
Pope Benedict XVI is a prominent cat lover who has lovingly tended to feral colonies in his day and has defended the care of feral cats on Vatican property.
Hed be appalled at whats happening right now at St James Church in lower Manhattan.
Father Lino Gonsalves and Father Walter Tonelotto have locked out caretakers who have tended to the churchs feral cat colony for years in an effort to starve the cats off church property.
Every cat in the colony is neutered and vaccinated per Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) guidelines, the only proven effective and humane method for managing feral cat populations. The priests refuse to meet with the Mayors Alliance for NYCs Animals to discuss any plans for the cats care even though caretakers have expressed their willingness to address concerns the priests may have for hygiene or security.
In recent weeks the incendiary situation has heated up, with one groundskeeper hinting that the cats would be poisoned and rescuers arrested for trespassing. The cats have gone more than two weeks without food.
<snip>
http://mousebreath.com/2012/03/22/priests-starving-feral-cats-in-
Have those ASSHOLES ever heard of St. Francis of Asissi?
One of the animal rescue groups is having a meeting with them. It has turned into a huge kerfuffle
xchrom
(108,903 posts)Problem solved.
Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)No parishioners...no money...no church...no priests. These people are soulless!
AngryOldDem
(14,061 posts)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.
Rex
(65,616 posts)Not something good, I would bet.
itsrobert
(14,157 posts)than they should be charged for cruelty to animals. Because once they assumed caretaker status, than they should be held accountable for their mistreatment of their pets.
AngryOldDem
(14,061 posts)And if cost is a reason behind this, I'm sure that if they asked their parishioners to donate food and money, most would happily do so.
This is cruelty and I hope the city treats it as such.
ProfessionalLeftist
(4,982 posts)Instead.
rfranklin
(13,200 posts)MattBaggins
(7,904 posts)They are both vermin
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)Poor babies.
SoutherDem
(2,307 posts)Where I live the law says if you feed an animal your are responsible for them. This includes basic health care, shelter, feeding/water also are responsible for any damage or injury they may cause. It is ok not to feed them to begin with, but by feeding you are inviting them to stay. I don't know if this law is state, county or city.
I was raised by an animal loving mother and have taken after her, I own 9 cats and 2 dogs, all rescued! I can't stand to see any animal go hungry even if it means my family grows by one more.
The idea that a church would do this give just one more reason I am an Atheist.
So much for Christian compassion. I know all Christians aren't like this, but I get blamed for things other Atheist do so turn about is fair play.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)RKP5637
(67,112 posts)because they invoke the word god and religion is beyond me.
michaz
(1,352 posts)where I live and we have been feeding a homeless dog for almost 3 years now. Father even tells me when the dog is out front waiting for food and water. We have tried to get this dog and it is next to impossible. DCO has tried numerous times but he has been like this since he was a puppy according to some people. How he survives the very cold winters here in upstate northern NY we do not know.
Mz Pip
(27,452 posts)to my son. It's a couple of blocks from where he lives. I wonder if there are some legal actions that can be taken to either relocate the animals or force the church to reconsider.
davsand
(13,421 posts)Seems to me that local guys would have to relent if the higher up church officials got involved. If the Pope is a proponent of caring for ferals, I'd think that maybe the local guys would be smart fo fall in line with that, or at least allow the animals to be trapped and removed to a safer place.
According to the website of the archdiocese of New York, the ArchBishop is Timothy Dolan. Maybe it would help to contact his office????
Laura
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)There should be no "if he knew, he would be appalled". It should be brought to his attention with tons of publicity, emails, and letters. Although I would also be working with the pieces of human waste who are the priests at St James Church, I would be putting even more pressure on them----from above.
Editted to add http://www.fisheaters.com/addresses.html
To contact the Pope, write to:
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
00120 Vatican City, Italy, Europe
E-mail:
Vatican-Info@state.gov
glinda
(14,807 posts)The Pope seems to be careless in regards to other things, am so doubtful he will care for animals.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)It is probably a waste of time, but I would rather go this route than not. It isn't that big a deal and did not take long. All I know is that if the Pope were to decide to do something, it would happen fast. You are right, it probably will not help, but I don't know that for a fact.
AngryOldDem
(14,061 posts)If he doesn't care about kids, he sure as hell will care less for animals.
Catholic values in action.
snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)So maybe no one there will care, but I figure you cover every base where you think there is hope.
snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)at Vatican-Info@state.gov and requested my email be forwarded.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)I checked and mine had failure too, so I editted my post with your address. Thank you.
snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)they are always running stories about inhumane treatment of animals. It's hard to say whether they'll run a story but it can't hurt to let them know about this atrocious cruelty.
michaz
(1,352 posts)benedictxvi@vatican.va
However -
http://www.osv.com/OSV4MeNav/TheHolyFathers/PopeBenedictXVI/Contactthepope/tabid/1597/Default.aspx
Contact the Pope
The Popes regular mailing address is:
His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI
Apostolic Palace
00120 Vatican City
Email the Pope
One used to be able to email the pope at benedictxvi@vatican.va (English) or benedettoxvi@vatican.va (Italian). However, on October 7, 2011, an official at the Pontifical Council for Social Communications confirmed for Our Sunday Visitor that the email addresses are no longer active.
snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)Vatican-Info@state.gov
snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)Vatican-Info@state.gov
pennylane100
(3,425 posts)People should try to toss food over the fences or wherever it can be done. The idea that there may be cats starving to death there is reprehensible. And the people who give money to the church during services should just leave notes saying that they are using the money to help save the cats.
Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)May they reap what they sow.
glinda
(14,807 posts)Then file animal cruelty charges.
LisaL
(44,974 posts)They will most likely be put to sleep.
glinda
(14,807 posts)somewhere neutered and spayed where they can live out their days and not be tortured and abused. They are being abused right now to the max.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Scum. Inhuman scum.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)How to Save the St James Cats
Those who wish to comment directly to St. James Church officials can e-mail Father Lino Gonsalves at sjc@stjosephnyc.org. (The Archdiocese of New York and the Vatican will be copied on your e-mail.) You may also call Father Lino Gonsalves of St. James Church at (212) 267-8376 or Joseph Zwilling, Communications Director for the Archdiocese of New York, at (212) 371-1011 ×2997.
Response to Are_grits_groceries (Original post)
Obamanaut This message was self-deleted by its author.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)What a great group of guys
valerief
(53,235 posts)LadyHawkAZ
(6,199 posts)Let's stop feeding the damn priests! Feral cats are fascinating creatures with distinct personalities and a purpose in nature. Priests? Not so much.
I'm going to go away now before my fury at this article bubbles over into red rage- I have a nice evening planned and don't want this hanging around my head all night.
1monster
(11,012 posts)be removed to another area and for the church to be over run by big ole New York City sewer rats.
Cats are relatively clean. Rats are not and cannot be trained to be simply because they are not physically able to be.
I have seen what a starving cat looks like. It is heart breaking. http://journals.democraticunderground.com/1monster/1
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)Maybe they still think the cats are linked to the Devil.
I dunno.... if you fall for religious BS enough to become a priest, you'll believe anything!
MsPithy
(809 posts)OOPS, I suppose it would be more accurate to say they are child fucking priests, anyhoo, if they have the cats locked up somehow so the people who feed them can't get to them, it is a crime. If they poison them, it's a crime!
Do all Catholics get a pass on all laws, now?
dems_rightnow
(1,956 posts)Read the story.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)Absolute scum.