The Shrine of St. Joseph of the Mountains, a Yarnell, Arizona, landmark famous for having withstood the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, is a place for the faithful and faith-curious to walk among sculptures reflecting Jesus’ last days on Earth, to pray, meditate, and even stay overnight, all in a serene natural setting. In February, this peaceful religious retreat was also the scene of a burglary. Someone broke into the shrine’s donation lockbox and made off with several hundred dollars or so in cash. To extend goodwill and foster compassion, LAMBS—PETA’s Christian outreach division—has sent the shrine a $100 donation and a care package of shelf-stable vegan food for its retreat kitchen, as well as vegan cookbooks and a copy of Dominion for its library.
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In a letter to the shrine’s caretaker, PETA points out that plant-based meals spare animals immense suffering and provide a sustainable, easy way to foster a world “on earth as it is in heaven.”
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“Jesus urged us to love our neighbors, and we believe that applies to a religious landmark that’s in need and to animals who are raised and killed for food,” says PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “We hope PETA’s small donation and vegan care package help the Shrine of St. Joseph of the Mountains spread a message of kindness for all of God’s creation.”
LAMBS also sent the retreat center plenty of PETA’s vegan starter kits. Want to encourage your church to eat compassionately? Order your vegan starter kits here!
