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“Animals, too, are God’s creatures…Certainly a sort of industrial use of creatures, so that geese are fed in such a way as to produce as large a liver as possible, or hens are so packed together that they become caricatures of birds, this degrading of living creatures to a commodity seems to me in fact to contradict the relationship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible.”

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- Pope Benedict XVI (then Cardinal Ratzinger)

 

Over 70 billion farmed animals are killed for human use every year. The animal agriculture industry not only inflicts immense suffering on animals, but it’s also destroying the environment, our common home. The vast majority of our food comes from factory farms. Factory farms are large, industrial operations that intensively confine thousands and thousands of animals being raised for food. Factory farms threaten human health, safety, and the environment. In addition to significantly contributing to climate change, factory farms are also responsible for deforestation, air pollution, and water pollution. Undercover investigations have revealed rampant violations of federal environmental laws, food safety laws, and labor laws in factory farms across the country.

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Read more about the devastating impact of factory farming here. 

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Reducing the amount of animal products in your diet is good for both the environment and the animals and workers exploited by industrial animal agriculture. Modifying your lifestyle can seem daunting, but it doesn't need to be! If you’re not vegan, consider adopting a practice like Meatless Mondays or not eating animal products before 7PM. Small changes have a big impact. We hope the below resources will help you get started. 

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Check out our brand new guide to eating compassionately below!

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Faith-Based Resources for Eating Compassionately 

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• "Eating Mercifully" is a short film that explores the Christian perspective on factory farming. Order a free copy and watch the trailer here. ​

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• "Lent & Learn: Revitalize your Life, Beginning with Lent" is a free Lenten guide from Christian health coach, Jennifer Nemeth, RN.

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• Catholic Relief Services features simple vegetarian recipes every Lent. Learn more about global hunger and read great recipes here.

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Other Resources on Plant-Based Diets

 

• The website, Meatless Monday, has resources on the HOW and WHY many people choose to not eat meat one day a week.

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• Forks Over Knives offers hundreds of recipes plus meal plans.

 

• Tryveg.com has a free starter guide, recipes, and meal plans. 

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• The Humane Society of the United States offers a guide to meat-free meals that includes information to motivate you on your journey plus recipes.  

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• Host a vegan potluck at church and inspire others to join you with this guide!

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