Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
PA Chamber Applauds Johnson & Johnson's $1B+ Investment Into Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Feb. 19 -- The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry issued the following statement on Feb. 18, 2026:
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PA Chamber Applauds Johnson & Johnson's $1B+ Investment into Pennsylvania
Today, PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein joined leaders from Johnson & Johnson in Ambler as the company announced its plans to invest more than $1 billion into a new cell therapy manufacturing facility in the Commonwealth. Afterward, he issued the following statement:
"Today's announcement is the latest in a growing series of major investments that underscore Pennsylvania's
... Show Full Article
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Feb. 19 -- The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry issued the following statement on Feb. 18, 2026:
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PA Chamber Applauds Johnson & Johnson's $1B+ Investment into Pennsylvania
Today, PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein joined leaders from Johnson & Johnson in Ambler as the company announced its plans to invest more than $1 billion into a new cell therapy manufacturing facility in the Commonwealth. Afterward, he issued the following statement:
"Today's announcement is the latest in a growing series of major investments that underscore Pennsylvania'srenewed competitiveness and momentum. Johnson & Johnson's decision to expand its footprint here marks a significant win for the Commonwealth and for the future of American life sciences leadership.
"Johnson & Johnson's announcement builds on recent momentum, including Eli Lilly's $3.5 billion commitment in the Lehigh Valley, and reinforces that when Pennsylvania advances smart, pro growth policies, employers respond with real investment.
"This investment is the result of focused, bipartisan efforts in recent years by the General Assembly and the Shapiro administration to strengthen Pennsylvania's business climate. Pro-growth tax reforms and meaningful permitting improvements are making our state more competitive for large-scale, transformative projects.
"I want to thank Governor Shapiro and his team, particularly Secretary Rick Siger and Chief Transformation Officer Ben Kirchner, for their hard work and leadership in landing this critical investment. J&J could have selected anywhere to invest, but they deliberately chose Pennsylvania. With world class research institutions, a highly skilled workforce, and a strong life sciences ecosystem, Pennsylvania has the fundamentals to lead in next generation innovation. By continuing to advance policies that strengthen our competitive edge, the Commonwealth is positioning itself as a global hub for life saving scientific breakthroughs and 21st century manufacturing."
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The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its statewide membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of BusinessTM.
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Original text here: https://www.pachamber.org/media/25276/pa_chamber_applauds_johnson_johnsons_1b_investment_into_pennsylvania/
[Category: Business]
NTI and CACDA Issue Joint Statement Calling for Stronger Biosecurity and Responsible AI-Biotechnology Innovation
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Nuclear Threat Initiative issued the following news:
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NTI and CACDA Issue Joint Statement Calling for Stronger Biosecurity and Responsible AI-Biotechnology Innovation
Amid rapid advances in bioscience and as artificial intelligence reshapes global technological capabilities, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) are jointly calling for action to strengthen biosecurity and oversight and engage in responsible practices to prevent accidents or misuse.
The organizations issued the Joint Statement on Shared
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Nuclear Threat Initiative issued the following news:
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NTI and CACDA Issue Joint Statement Calling for Stronger Biosecurity and Responsible AI-Biotechnology Innovation
Amid rapid advances in bioscience and as artificial intelligence reshapes global technological capabilities, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) are jointly calling for action to strengthen biosecurity and oversight and engage in responsible practices to prevent accidents or misuse.
The organizations issued the Joint Statement on SharedPriorities for Strengthened Biosecurity and Responsible AI-Biotechnology Innovation outlining biosecurity risks identified as areas of shared concern and emphasizing the importance of forward-looking oversight and responsible practices to achieve common objectives.
The statement is an outcome of a Track II Biosecurity Dialogue held in Beijing in November 2025. Building on prior exchanges, the discussion brought together U.S. and Chinese experts from academia, industry, and non-governmental organizations to promote mutual understanding, share national perspectives, and identify opportunities for practical cooperation.
To advance practical risk-reduction efforts related to urgent and emerging biological threats, the statement calls on the international community to:
1. Elevate cooperation on preventing non-state actor misuse of modern bioscience and biotechnology as a shared priority.
2. Participate in joint international efforts to assess emerging biological risks, including at the nexus of AI and the life sciences, and to advance practical solutions that strengthen global safety and security standards.
3. Invest in biosecurity innovation, including the development of technical guardrails to ensure rapidly advancing AIxBio capabilities are protected from misuse and used safely and responsibly. This will be important for ensuring that AIxBio capabilities benefit society, advance human wellbeing, and support economic development.
4. Pursue mandatory nucleic acid synthesis and customer screening requirements, aligned with respective domestic laws and practices to address current and emerging biosecurity risks arising from rapid technological advances.
5. Support experts in jointly developing governance standards for oversight of dual-use life science research to serve as a reference for effective governmental decision-making.
6. Develop national and international frameworks to guard against the risks posed by mirror life, reaffirming the shared view that such organisms should never be created, and to support non-governmental efforts by experts to strengthen these frameworks.
7. Continue investing in the next generation of biosecurity leaders through exchanges, workshops, joint trainings, and participation in ongoing biosecurity dialogues.
Amid rapid advances in biotechnology and capabilities at the convergence of AI and the life sciences, international cooperation is increasingly essential to address evolving biosafety and biosecurity risks--including the potential for accidental or deliberate misuse by non-state actors.
The statement, signed by Dialogue co-chairs Jaime Yassif, PhD, then-vice president for Global Biological Policy and Programs at NTI, and Dai Huaicheng, secretary general of CACDA, reflects a shared commitment to responsible bioscience and biotechnology research and development. NTI and CACDA will continue convening this Track II Biosecurity Dialogue to sustain mutual understanding and explore practical avenues for cooperation on shared biosafety and biosecurity challenges.
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Original text here: https://www.nti.org/news/nti-and-cacda-issue-joint-statement-calling-for-stronger-biosecurity-and-responsible-ai-biotechnology-innovation/
[Category: National Defense]
IFPTE Endorses Claire Valdez for Congress
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers issued the following news:
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IFPTE Endorses Claire Valdez for Congress
IFPTE Calls Valdez "a champion for working families and their Unions"
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On behalf of its 90,000 members throughout North America, as well as the thousands of federal workers represented in New York City, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) is proud to endorse New York Assemblymember Claire Valdez for the United States House of Representatives.
The Union's Executive Officers released
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers issued the following news:
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IFPTE Endorses Claire Valdez for Congress
IFPTE Calls Valdez "a champion for working families and their Unions"
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On behalf of its 90,000 members throughout North America, as well as the thousands of federal workers represented in New York City, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) is proud to endorse New York Assemblymember Claire Valdez for the United States House of Representatives.
The Union's Executive Officers releasedthe following statements of support:
IFPTE President Matt Biggs: "Assemblymember Valdez has established herself as a champion for working families and their Unions in New York City and the State of New York, and we know she'll continue building worker power in Congress. As a Union organizer for the United Auto Workers (UAW), and a member of the New York State Assembly, she knows first-hand the many challenges facing working families in New York City and beyond. She also knows all too well about the Union-busting attacks that workers experience when attempting to exercise their right to organize Unions in their workplaces. As a member of Congress, she will be one of labor's strongest supporters, and IFPTE is honored to lend her our support."
IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson: "Claire Valdez has made clear that the foundation of her work in Congress will be to bring fairness back to workers when it comes to Union organizing drives. She understands that with increased Union density also comes an improved standard of living for working families in all sectors of our economy. She has made it clear that she will be on the front lines in Congress standing with us against the Administration's attacks on the collective bargaining rights of federal workers, including IFPTE-represented workers right there in New York City. IFPTE stands with her."
IFPTE Legislative/Political Director Faraz Khan: "It is refreshing to see a candidate that puts the importance of collective bargaining and organizing Unions at the forefront of their campaign and the foundational piece of their policy platform - that is exactly what Claire Valdez has done. IFPTE applauds her and we are excited to support her candidacy for Congress."
Valdez is running to serve the constituents of New York's Seventh Congressional District.
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Original text here: https://www.ifpte.org/news/ifpte-endorses-claire-valdez-for-congress
[Category: Engineering]
Human Rights First: Report - Ukraine's Human Rights Challenges Will Persist Beyond Any Peace Deal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSrpt) -- Human Rights First issued the following news:
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New report: Ukraine's Human Rights Challenges Will Persist Beyond Any Peace Deal
In a report released today to mark this week's anniversaries of the 2014 and 2022 Russian invasions, human rights activists in Ukraine warn that whether or not ongoing peace talks with Russia produce an imminent breakthrough, many of the country's most serious human rights challenges will persist long after the fighting ends.
Human Rights First's new report outlines pressing human rights issues currently confronting Ukraine, which
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSrpt) -- Human Rights First issued the following news:
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New report: Ukraine's Human Rights Challenges Will Persist Beyond Any Peace Deal
In a report released today to mark this week's anniversaries of the 2014 and 2022 Russian invasions, human rights activists in Ukraine warn that whether or not ongoing peace talks with Russia produce an imminent breakthrough, many of the country's most serious human rights challenges will persist long after the fighting ends.
Human Rights First's new report outlines pressing human rights issues currently confronting Ukraine, whichare likely to endure beyond any ceasefire. "Local Human Rights Defenders urge that international attention not fade from these issues once the fighting stops," said Human Rights First's Senior Advisor and co-author of the report Brian Dooley.
Human Rights First has been working alongside Human Rights Defenders in Ukraine since the Russian invasion of 2014. Since the 2022 invasion, it has made 25 research visits to the eastern front of the war in the northwestern region of Kharkiv.
Today's report focuses on seven urgent issues: the prosecution of war crimes, corruption, the disinformation war, LGBTQI+ rights, the mental health crisis, how suspected collaborators are prosecuted, and refugees who have left Ukraine being forced to return.
Drawing on the assessments of local activists, this report considers how each of these issues might develop in a post-conflict environment.
"Human Rights First has worked for decades with activists in conflict zones and during revolutions, and understands the challenges of looking beyond the immediate crisis, and to start planning for what has become known as The Day After," said Suchita Uppal, co-author of the report. "But post-conflict success in Ukraine will depend on how these issues are addressed."
Ukraine will face a multitude of other challenges when the fighting stops, including what will happen if some of its citizens remain under Russian occupation, and redefining its relationships with the United States and the European Union. The country will also have to restart its economy, and to clear vast areas of its land contaminated by land mines.
The report's recommendations include that any peace deal or cease fire agreement should not trade away accountability for war crimes, and that Ukraine's allies should publicly support and properly resource anti-corruption institutions and activists.
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REPORT: https://humanrightsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/HRF_Ukraine_Anniversary_2026.pdf
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Original text here: https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/new-report-ukraines-human-rights-challenges-will-persist-beyond-any-peace-deal/
[Category: Sociological]
Brady Celebrates the Passage of a Slate of Gun Violence Prevention Bills in the Virginia Legislature
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Brady Celebrates the Passage of a Slate of Gun Violence Prevention Bills in the Virginia Legislature
These bills will help hold the gun industry accountable, ban untraceable ghost guns, improve secure firearm storage, ban guns on college campuses, and more
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RICHMOND, VA, February 19, 2026 -- Brady, the nation's oldest gun violence prevention group, celebrates the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate for passing a slate of gun violence prevention bills. These
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Brady Celebrates the Passage of a Slate of Gun Violence Prevention Bills in the Virginia Legislature
These bills will help hold the gun industry accountable, ban untraceable ghost guns, improve secure firearm storage, ban guns on college campuses, and more
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RICHMOND, VA, February 19, 2026 -- Brady, the nation's oldest gun violence prevention group, celebrates the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate for passing a slate of gun violence prevention bills. Thesebills will now enter crossover, passing out of the chamber they originated in to be heard in the other chamber. If these bills are passed out of crossover, legislators will send more than 20 gun violence prevention bills to the Governor's desk to be signed into law.
Among these lifesaving bills are the following:
* SB 27 / HB 21 - create standards of responsible conduct for members of the gun industry, including safety measures regarding the manufacture, purchase, and distribution of firearms;
* SB 109 / HB 201 - require schools to notify parents about secure firearm storage and risks associated with storing firearms in the home;
* SB 272 / HB 626 - bans firearms on college campuses throughout the Commonwealth
* SB 323 / HB 40 - bans the sale, manufacture, and possession of deadly, unserialized ghost guns; and
* SB 160 / HB 19 - broadens protections for victims of domestic abuse.
Brady President Kris Brown said:
"Just like the rest of the country, Virginians have watched in horror as gun violence has become the number one killer of kids, all while past leadership in our commonwealth continued to veto gun safety legislation. I'm a native Virginian and a mother who raised her children here, so I want to highlight the work being done this year in the Virginia General Assembly - on the heels of voters' clear mandate last November - to make our commonwealth a safer place. This slate of gun violence prevention bills will be an enormous step forward to hold the gun industry accountable, ban untraceable ghost guns disproportionately used in crime, and normalize responsible firearm ownership in Virginia. As these bills continue to move through our General Assembly, I ardently urge lawmakers to pass these bills in the crossover and deliver them to Governor Spanberger's desk to sign."
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Brady has one powerful mission -- to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It's in our hands.
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Original text here: https://www.bradyunited.org/press/virginia-gun-violence-bills
[Category: Political]
Anti-Defamation League: J7 Task Force Statement on Francesca Albanese's Latest Antisemitic Remarks and Call for UN Human Rights Council Reforms
NEW YORK, Feb. 19 -- The Anti-Defamation League, an anti-hate organization that aims to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all, posted the following news release on Feb. 18, 2026:
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J7 Task Force Statement on Francesca Albanese's Latest Antisemitic Remarks and Call for UN Human Rights Council Reforms
Following the latest antisemitic remarks by UN Special Envoy Francesca Albanese, the J7 Large Jewish Communities Task Force on Antisemitism--representing the Jewish communities of Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom,
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Feb. 19 -- The Anti-Defamation League, an anti-hate organization that aims to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all, posted the following news release on Feb. 18, 2026:
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J7 Task Force Statement on Francesca Albanese's Latest Antisemitic Remarks and Call for UN Human Rights Council Reforms
Following the latest antisemitic remarks by UN Special Envoy Francesca Albanese, the J7 Large Jewish Communities Task Force on Antisemitism--representing the Jewish communities of Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom,and the United States-- express its support to the call by numerous governments calling on Ms. Albanese to resign, and further urge a comprehensive reform of the special rapporteur structure and oversight by the UN Human Rights Council.
Throughout her tenure, Ms. Albanese has demonstrated a persistent pattern of antisemitic statements and anti-Israel bias, including Holocaust inversion and comparisons, resorting to age-old tropes, denying antisemitic violence, and legitimizing terror against Jews and Israelis, which renders her fundamentally unfit to represent the United Nations in any capacity.
Most recently, on February 7, 2026, speaking at an Al Jazeera forum in Doha alongside Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and Iran's Foreign Minister, Ms. Albanese stated that "we as a humanity have a common enemy," remarks widely understood to designate Israel as the enemy of all humanity. While she later claimed to reference "the system," her words--delivered in that company and forum--were unambiguous in their malign intent and effect.
These statements flagrantly violate the UN Special Procedures Code of Conduct, which requires impartiality, objectivity, and personal discretion. Ms. Albanese has repeatedly failed to meet this standard.
We commend the governments of France, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy and the United States, which have called for her resignation. We urge the remaining J7 governments and governments worldwide to unequivocally condemn Ms. Albanese's statements and demand her immediate removal or resignation.
Furthermore, the fact that Ms. Albanese was reappointed in April 2025 despite widespread objections from governments and non-governmental organizations exposes a profound failure in the UN system. We call on the UN Human Rights Council to undertake immediate and substantial reforms, including:
1. Rigorous vetting of all candidates for Special Rapporteur mandates to disqualify individuals with demonstrable bias toward the subjects they are tasked to investigate and report on;
2. A swift, transparent, and non-transactional removal process for mandate-holders who violate the Code of Conduct, ensuring accountability without compromising legitimate independence.
The credibility of the United Nations and its Human Rights Council depend on impartiality, integrity, and the rejection of antisemitism in all its forms. Ms. Albanese's continued tenure makes a mockery of these principles. The time for half-measures has passed. We demand action.
About the J7 Task Force on Antisemitism: The J7 brings together the leading Jewish communities and organizations from Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States to combat antisemitism, promote Jewish security, and advocate for shared values in the international arena.
J7 Members:
Argentina: Delegacion de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA)
Australia: Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ)
Canada: Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)
France: Conseil Representatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF)
Germany: Central Council of Jews in Germany
The United Kingdom: Board of Deputies of British Jews
The United States: ADL (Anti-Defamation League) and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
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Original text here: https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/j7-task-force-statement-francesca-albaneses-latest-antisemitic-remarks-and
[Category: Political]
'Show Mercy to All' - PETA Asks U.S. Catholic Bishops' President to Lead Switch to Vegan Holy Items
NORFOLK, Virginia, Feb. 19 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release:
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'Show Mercy to All': PETA Asks U.S. Catholic Bishops' President to Lead Switch to Vegan Holy Items
In time for Ash Wednesday, PETA's faith outreach division, PETA LAMBS ("Least Among My Brothers and Sisters" from Matthew 25:40), sent a letter today to Archbishop Paul Coakley, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, asking him to encourage Catholics nationwide to live out Christianity's core values of mercy and compassion by replacing traditional holy items--typically
... Show Full Article
NORFOLK, Virginia, Feb. 19 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release:
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'Show Mercy to All': PETA Asks U.S. Catholic Bishops' President to Lead Switch to Vegan Holy Items
In time for Ash Wednesday, PETA's faith outreach division, PETA LAMBS ("Least Among My Brothers and Sisters" from Matthew 25:40), sent a letter today to Archbishop Paul Coakley, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, asking him to encourage Catholics nationwide to live out Christianity's core values of mercy and compassion by replacing traditional holy items--typicallymade of animal products--with vegan versions.
In the letter, PETA points to candles made of wax taken from intensively farmed, stressed bees; Bibles bound with the skin of slaughtered animals; and garments made of wool stolen from sheep who are punched, kicked, and sliced to ribbons in the wool industry. PETA notes that vestments and other garments could easily be made from linen instead of wool, and to demonstrate how simple other compassionate updates would be, PETA is also sending Archbishop Coakley a trio of soy candles and a Bible bound in vegan leather.
"This period of self-reflection is an opportunity to put the Church's values of compassion and stewardship into practice, and a vegan update to traditional holy items would affirm that all of God's creation deserves respect," says PETA Faith Outreach Coordinator Sarah McFarlane, a Catholic. "PETA encourages Archbishop Coakley to lead with kindness by inspiring Catholics across the country to show mercy to animals with just a few simple changes."
Just like humans, bees love to play, cows form friendships, and sheep grow depressed if isolated from their flock.
PETA has also placed an appeal near St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., urging people to leave all animals in peace by going vegan this Lenten season and beyond. PETA offers a free vegan starter kit to help those looking to make the switch.
PETA--whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to wear or abuse in any other way"--points out thatEvery Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
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PETA's letter to Archbishop Coakley follows.
February 18, 2026
The Most Reverend Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, S.T.L., D.D.
President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Your Excellency:
Greetings from LAMBS, the Christian outreach division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals--PETA entities have more than 10.4 million members and supporters worldwide, including more than 52,000 in Oklahoma, and our U.S. headquarters is in the wonderful city of Norfolk, Virginia. We respectfully ask that the Church deepen its commitment to compassion and mercy to all of God's creations by encouraging Catholics across the country to replace holy items made from animal products with equivalent items made from plants. To share what these options could look like, we will be sending you a vegan leather Bible and soy candles for your consideration.
Candles symbolizing Jesus Christ would better reflect hope for bees if made from soy instead of beeswax. Like all animals, bees can feel stress and pain, but conventional beekeeping practices often involve the use of chemicals, cutting off queen bees' wings to disable them, and replacing the bees' vital food source, honey, with a cheap, nutrient-poor sugar substitute.
The Church could encourage Catholics to avoid using Bibles bound by leather, as animals used for their skin are raised on filthy factory farms and subjected to beatings and abuse during "death marches" to slaughter. Fortunately, high-quality, non-leather Bibles are widely available and allow the faithful to honor Scripture without contributing to animal suffering.
Wool garments could be made from plant-based fibers, such as linen, which would spare sheep the violence of shearing and early death in the wool industry. Gentle, clever sheep--whom God compares to His people--deserve better than being thrown around wool sheds, stood on, punched, and kicked.
Removing animal-derived products from holy items would align with the Church's message of kindness and compassion, reflect that all animals are of God, and honor the commandments not to kill or take from others. We hope you will consider these suggestions in the spirit of love, stewardship, and reverence for all of God's creation. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.
In Christ,
Sarah McFarlane, M.A.
Faith Outreach Coordinator, PETA LAMBS
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Original text here: https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/show-mercy-to-all-peta-asks-u-s-catholic-bishops-president-to-lead-switch-to-vegan-holy-items/
[Category: Animals]
