The Pope says no to KFC

From PETA's Action Center - Why Christians Should Boycott KFC

Pope Benedict XVI had condemned the type of factory-farming abuses KFC's suppliers commit against animals, saying that "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." In slaughterhouses, birds are degraded in such a way that they become caricatures of their natural selves. They are confined to dark, filthy warehouses and denied everything natural to them. They never breathe fresh air, enjoy the warmth of the sun, dustbathe, or nurture their young. They are drugged and bred to grow so large that many suffer crippling injuries, and their bones often break beneath the weight of their massive bodies.

n slaughterhouses, the birds' legs are forced into shackles—often causing more breakage—and their throats are slit while they are still conscious. Many are scalded to death in defeathering tanks. Workers at a KFC "Supplier of the Year" were documented spitting tobacco into live birds' eyes, spray-painting their faces, and stomping on them. These practices are clearly contrary to the teachings of Jesus, St. Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, and basic Christian values of compassion and kindness.

Despite how they allow animals to be abused in the facilities, KFC's top executives are boasting about being good Christians.

I lived in front of about 5 chicken houses for about 2 years and the conditions in a chicken house are not good. I don't know how they compare to the ones specifically used by KFC. If one really thinks about it, the raising of any animal for meat and then its subsequent slaughter is no walk in the part for the animal in question. Maybe KFC is really worse than the next guy, I don't know. However, I feel like if I were to boycott KFC for these reasons I'd practically have to become a vegetarian to keep from being a hypocrite.

The one thing that does bother me a little about the story is the fact that the KFC people are lauding themselves as good Christians while using these business practices, but I really can't judge what is in a person's heart and I'm not going to start trying with these people.