Susan, a NJ animal lover and frequenter of all-creatures.org, sought out the assistance of Frank L. Hoffman (the man responsible for this site) to pen a letter clearly stating just some of the reasons why the use of live animals in Christmas nativity scenes is questionable. Below is his response ...
 

To whom it may concern:

Christmas is a time when we are to remember and honor the birth of Jesus Christ, and the peace that He offers us, and a manger scene should be part of that reminder. However, human commercialism had blinded most of society to this fact. The live animal manger scene in front of the Municipal Building in Scotch Plains, NJ is part of this commercialism, and because of the suffering of the animals, and their lack of proper care, the message is just the opposite of the one that Jesus brought to us.

We can well understand the sponsorship of the live manger by the Scotch Plaines Business Association, for their whole existence is to promote the businesses in the area, but their promotion of the suffering of animals is totally inexcusable. What is very hard to understand, is the fact that the live manger was also sponsored by the Westfield Presbyterian Church, for they should know better, and the message that they give to the public is that the welfare of animals is not the concern of the church, which is also inexcusable, for it subverts the whole message of why Jesus came to earth.

John 3:16-17 teaches us that it was God's love for the whole world, and not just humans, that gave us the gift of Jesus Christ to save the whole world from its present sin and corruption. The animals in the manger scene were not saved from this corruption, they were just used and exploited. The proof of this is that they had improper food and shelter and that the calf was separated from his or her mother. If members of the public had not provided supplemental food and bedding the situation would have been even worse. Furthermore, the animals' escape from the manger pen endangered not only them, but the public.

What part of Jesus' Beatitudes don't the people of Scotch Plaines and Westfield understand. There is nothing gentle about having live animals in a manger scene, nor is there any righteousness in such an act. Surely the pure of heart would understand the discomfort they were causing the animals, but they didn't. And, they surely were not the peacemaking children of God who are called upon to free the world from its present corruption (Matthew 5:3-10 and Romans 8:18-23). They only contributed to the corruption.

Therefore, we call upon the people of Scotch Plaines and Westfield, and the Mayor of Scotch Plaines to end the live manger, and show the world that they can truly be the loving, compassionate, and peacemaking children of God that Jesus call us to be. Then there will be a truly Merry Christmas for all.

In the Love of the Lord,

Rev. Frank L. Hoffman (Retired)
The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation

 

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