What about those farmers who torture their animals?
Question:
What about these awful farms that keep calves anemic and torture them just to offer veal on a menu when we already have meat choices. At one point is it torture? Do you feel God would accept the way we farm today? Is there a list of Christian farmers that can be circulated to give people a choice to make a decision that God would be accepting of?
Answer:
Every state has laws against cruelty to animals. I read daily about accounts where they are being enforced. Farmers who mistreat their livestock would not stay in business. Mistreated animals don't make good breeders or good food.
By making a broad and unspecific charge against all farmers as a class, you are spreading gossip. You don't know of a farmer who mistreats his herd. You assume it's happening because other people told you. If you know of mistreatment, it is your duty to turn the evidence over to the humane society or other government agencies so they can look into it and correct it.
If you prefer to know where your food was raised, I know of numerous small farm operations that have found a niche market by dealing directly with consumers. Most are organic farmers because the food in this class tends to be more costly. All you need to do is go to your local farmers' market and start asking around.
Question:
No assumptions being made here. Or gossip. The fact is veal is on most menus and it is a calf that is stowed in a box so that it cannot move and grow muscle mass. That is a fact. And all veal lovers are sinners if they are aware of the process in how a baby animal ends up on their plate.
Answer:
Here are the government expectations. Please note that the government specifically mentions anemia. If the rules are not followed, action can and is taken against the farmer. A Wikipedia article notes where this has happened.
As I said, you are speaking against an industry without knowing how it is operated and regulated. Please also note that you are stepping beyond your bounds. You declare that people who eat veal are sinners. First, you did not prove that sin occurs in raising veal. Second, you declared something a sin without evidence from Scripture. You just violated what Paul stated: "Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him" (Romans 14:3).
