Madam, - Canon B. Lougheed (December 31st) seeks to excuse the eating of meat on the basis that Jesus partook of lamb on the occasion of the Passover.
This comes as an unpleasant reminder to many animal lovers who may have forgotten this detail of the life of Jesus, who is always portrayed as gentle, compassionate and loving. For many vegetarians the eating of meat is regarded as a cruel as well as an unhealthy thing to do.
In modern times not only do animals suffer a bloody and brutal death but their entire lives are spent in suffering, the only motive for their existence being profit.
Many are crammed in cages so small that they cannot move. They are deprived of fresh air and sunlight. Although conditions were very different in the days when Christ was on earth, lambs were still slaughtered in a barbaric manner and it is difficult to believe that those who partook of the meat of baby lambs could be described as gentle or compassionate.
It might therefore be wiser for Canon Lougheed to cease to emphasise that aspect of the life of Jesus lest church attendances shrink even further. - Yours, etc,
CARMEL COURTNEY, Sandyford Road, Dublin 16.