Priests Starving Feral Cats In NYC

[Are_grits_groceries]

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.

He’d be appalled at what’s 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 church’s 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 Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s 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]

1. The parishioners have to stay away & close their wallets.

Problem solved.

[Auntie Bush]

40. Boycott that church!

No parishioners...no money...no church...no priests. These people are soulless!

[AngryOldDem]

2. From St. Francis himself:

“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]

6. Yes I wonder what St. Francis of Assisi would say about this.

Not something good, I would bet.

[itsrobert]

3. If the church has been taking care of these cats and no longer doing so

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]

17. Exactly.

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. I say starve the damn priests

Instead.

[rfranklin]

7. Or poison them if need be....

[MattBaggins]

45. I'm going to be the asshole who says starve them both, cats and priests

They are both vermin

[AtomicKitten]

5. They need to allow a rescue in to remove the cats.

Poor babies.

[SoutherDem]

8. Heartless!!!

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]

10. +1, n/t

[RKP5637]

9. I suppose they'll say "god works in mysterious ways." Why assholes like this get a free pass

because they invoke the word god and religion is beyond me.

[michaz]

11. Time to start flooding the email of this church. I work at a Cahtholic Church

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]

12. I sent this

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. What does the Archdiocese say about this?

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]

14. I think it is time to petition the Pope on this.

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:
[email protected]

[glinda]

21. Are you kidding? Call animal Organizations to legally remove them and file charges.

The Pope seems to be careless in regards to other things, am so doubtful he will care for animals.

[Curmudgeoness]

35. I am not kidding.

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]

41. At the least, his lack of response will speak volumes.

If he doesn't care about kids, he sure as hell will care less for animals.

Catholic values in action.

[snagglepuss]

28. Just sent an email to Benedict cc'ing one of the priests

[Curmudgeoness]

32. I did it too.

So maybe no one there will care, but I figure you cover every base where you think there is hope.

[snagglepuss]

34. Unfortunately the emails got returned so I emailed the Vatican's embassy

at [email protected] and requested my email be forwarded.

[Curmudgeoness]

36. Thanks.

I checked and mine had failure too, so I editted my post with your address. Thank you.

[snagglepuss]

37. AS I am so upset by this I also emailed the news editor at the Daily Mail UK as

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]

15. My email keeps coming back. Maybe shut theirs down. n/t

[RC]

16. Try this one

[email protected]

However -
http://www.osv.com/OSV4MeNav/TheHolyFathers/PopeBenedictXVI/Contactthepope/tabid/1597/Default.aspx

Contact the Pope

The Pope’s 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 [email protected] (English) or [email protected] (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]

31. I ended up emailing the Vatican's American Embassy at

[email protected]

[snagglepuss]

30. My emails got sent back so I sent an email to the Vatican Emabassy at

[email protected]

[pennylane100]

18. I do not know the area, although I did google it

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]

19. Heartless Fucking Rat Bastards.

May they reap what they sow.

[glinda]

20. Call in the ASPCA & Humane Society with a warrant to gather the cats and adopt them out.

Then file animal cruelty charges.

[LisaL]

24. It's very hard to adopt out feral cats.

They will most likely be put to sleep.

[glinda]

42. Yes. But we have a feral that is now tame. I think the answer lies in placing them

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]

22. These are nasty wicked people as are those who come to them for 'Sacraments'.

Scum. Inhuman scum.

[magical thyme]

23. contact information for the so-called Christians doing this

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 [email protected]. (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 [phone] or Joseph Zwilling, Communications Director for the Archdiocese of New York, at [phone] ×2997.

[Dont call me Shirley]

26. Killing kitties, having sex with little boys, These Preists

What a great group of guys

[valerief]

27. The priests are still mad at the world for taking away their kiddies. nt

[LadyHawkAZ]

29. I have a great idea

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]

33. A truly Karmic and well deserved development would be for all of the colony to

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]

38. What a great lesson to teach their flock!

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]

39. What these mother fucking priests are doing is against the law.

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]

44. The cats aren't locked up.

Read the story.

[joeybee12]

43. Those priests are scum...

Absolute scum.