Thank you for your letter. I believe that there can be advantages for
us all in adopting particular diets at particular points in our lives
and Lent is one opportunity to do this. There is, however, a danger in
confusing the adoption of a personal discipline for a short time with
tackling a 'Grave Moral Issue'. I have listened hard to the arguments of
vegetarians and vegans and believe that the emphasis on care for God's
creation is an important one. However, I am not convinced that the
vegetarian way is the only legitimate way forward for Christians. Most
of your questions are very difficult to answer sensibly and are much
more appropriate as discussion topics than questions demanding a 'yes'
or 'no' answer. Clearly for example the answer to questions 3 and 4 is
yes but the implications of those answers are complex. I fear I simply
do not understand what 'Conscience is the aboriginal vicar of Christ'
can mean.
I hope that Christian vegetarians will continue to make their views
known clearly within the Church so that this particular perspective on
the Christian gospel is properly heard. However, I do not myself believe
that the New Testament commands a vegetarian way of life though neither
does it exclude it.
With prayers and best wishes,
Yours sincerely
(13/2/03)
Return to Episcopal responses
(2003)
Return to Lenten letters (2001-04)
