UK Court: Ethical veganism ‘deserves same protection as religion’, rules judge…
Sacked vegan Jordi Casamitjana has won a ruling that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief and is therefore a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.
Jordi Casamitjana said he was sacked by the League Against Cruel Sports after raising concerns that its pension fund was being invested into companies involved in animal testing.
The 55-year-old, from London, claims he was unfairly disciplined for making this disclosure and that the decision to dismiss him was because of his philosophical belief in ethical veganism. He spoke with Mike Graham.
Comment:
One commentator on YouTube said “stop the world, I REALLY want to get off…” while another wondered if joking about veganism would now be classed as a hate crime. I hope not… But what do YOU think?
Comments (54)
I saw that on the TV news. It’s absolutely mental. These judges are really out of touch with reality.
By that logic, anything can be called a religion.
Employers will be getting more and more afraid to take on staff, thanks to people like this man.
“By that logic, anything can be called a religion.”
That is my opinion, exactly. Nobody should criticise obesity any more because obesity might be your religion, LOL!
I agree – why don’t we call alcoholism a religion? It’s utter madness!
Petrus,
In Glasgow, alcohol IS a religion 😀
I haven’t laughed so much in ages!
There is no doubt that if Veganism is classed as a religion, then to criticise it will be a hate crime. These judges can’t have enough work to do when they’re setting themselves up to hear ridiculous claims like this.
Why would anyone WANT to criticise veganism? It is a personal choice that does no harm to anyone else.
Nobody criticises “veganism” – it’s the vegans who are so intolerant of anyone who eats meat. They are the intolerant people who won’t accept that eating meat is a personal choice as well, and does no harm to anyone if, like everything else, it’s eaten in moderation. And the “new research” which says otherwise, ignores the generations of human beings who have lived long and healthy lives. It’s only in modern times, with fashions in food coming and going all the time, that it’s been seriously questioned.
To make veganism (or any other food fashion) equivalent to a religion, is utterly nonsensical. There has to be something skewed in the thinking of any person who can’t see that.
Here’s an example in the news today of KFC giving a vegan a real chicken burger by mistake, LOL! I wonder if they will sue!
Fidelis,
One of those two people was physically sick when they discovered they’d been given a real chicken instead of whatever they give to vegans. What a hoot.
Sorry, but I’ve no time for this nonsense. When I was a child it was a case of “eat what you’re given” and it’s stuck with me, LOL!
If someone served you meat when you had specifically asked for a meat free meal on Ash Wednesday or Good Friday, or any Friday if you are in England, wouldn’t you be annoyed? I think you would have every right to complain. For all sorts of reasons people should be given what they ask and pay for.
I have had the wrong food brought to me many times, as recently as a few days ago, in fact. I wasn’t thrilled about it but I wasn’t “physically sick” either and I certainly didn’t threaten court action and indulge in newspaper coverage portraying me as some kind of victim if not martyr.
It strikes me that the increased need for mental health care and the rise of these food fashions and other nonsense such as worrying over alleged man-made climate change, is no coincidence.
How about comparing apples to apples? I might indeed be “annoyed,” or perhaps if I remembered to be charitable and humble (say nothing, Editor!), I might remember my own life full of mistakes, but I certainly wouldn’t make the ludicrous claim that my rights, or even my religion, have been violated because someone served me the wrong food!
I could see a Muslim claiming that, however, just to rub our faces in it.
RCA Victor,
I’m so glad that you agree with me, and be assured that I agree with you; I dare anyone to come on here to disagree with either or both of us.
Do I make myself clear?
I’m not arrogant or anything, don’t get me wrong, but if I have one attribute, it’s that I am very clear in my mind and in my speech. Very clear. And it would be a lack of humility to fail to point that out. Yes, very clear…
https://i.pinimg.com/236x/12/d4/53/12d453c1b4266d0f5ea591e41c4c5786–exit-sign-sign-sign.jpg
Editor,
I’m glad we agree to agree: this is clearly a case of a lack of disagreement. Or, as Cool Hand Luke might say,
“What we have here is a failure to mis-communicate.”
RCA Victor,
LOL! “a failure to mis-communicate” – that’s really funny!
Lily hit the nail on the head, I think (with sincere apologies to the nail for the pain it suffered – perhaps it can find a hit-nail support group offering hot chocolate, stuffed animals and a safe space from offensive hammers….):
Just as anyone can now invent their own gender, anyone can invent their own religion, and demand “rights” stemming from it. The psychological basis of this is narcissism, which is actually the prerequisite, on an individual scale, for anarchy. And anarchy is what the New World Odor is after.
As for vegans and “stopping the world I want to get off,” I’ve always wondered if vegans were from the planet Veague.
Personally, I consume very little meat due to animal welfare concerns, and am considering becoming a vegetarian, or at least a pescetarian (not a Presbyterian!). However, the ruling was just in response to a case brought by a man who claims he was dismissed because he was discriminated against. Why should anyone have an objection to veganism as a protected philosophical viewpoint? It’s not being classed as a religion. Why can’t people simply mind their own business and if people want to be vegans let them get on with it? If he was discriminated against, then the courts need to issue a ruling.
Catholic Convert 1,
Let me tell you what’s wrong with it. Veganism is a name for people who will only eat certain things, just like a chocoholic is a person who is eating a lot of chocolate. It is NOT a “philosophical viewpoint” – these people who are so into animal welfare that they would go to court to claim discrimination against anyone who doesn’t agree with them, are idiots. It’s not a “philosophical viewpoint” to think it’s good to not eat meat, only eat vegetables or whatever it is they eat, it’s just an opinion. There must be a difference, otherwise, we’d all be in court defending our opinions! Actually that’s what it is coming to these days.
If people don’t want to eat meat, that’s fine. Just don’t lecture those of us who do want to eat meat. You say “why can’t people mind their own business, if people want to be vegans and let them get on with it” but it’s the other way round. It’s these fanatical vegans or vegetarians who are refusing to mind THEIR own business and actually want eating meat to be made illegal – that was the news a few weeks back. Sorry, not meaning to offend, but IMHO they’re a bunch of clowns.
Lily I really have to back up your comment and agree with you ,they are a Bunch of Clowns. One thing though and maybe someone can answer it, is I have Never heard them Criticising Muslims about Hal Al Meat . Maybe they think that Muslims eat a sort of Vegan Meat Diet I know not . What I do know is that I argued with a Vegan on Social Media who said that Eating Meat was WORSE than Abortions . Now once that’s said all bets are off they Are Clowns. He then said to me would I be willing to Kill an Animal for Meat . I then said to him that I had worked in Slaughter Houses and yes I would Kill a Beast for Meat . He then said ( although I know not why ) that he had an MBE . What that had to do with the conversation illuded me . I will Take Vegans seriously when I see them take their pet Pig . Goat . Sheep or Cow for a walk and of course,clean up after them what is necessary. Until then al enjoy my Steaks . When I can afford them of course.
FOOF,
Er well…they would be critical of halal slaughter as they have a moral objection to eating meat. They just lump all animal slaughter into one blanket issue. They would not say that Muslims eat a vegan diet of sorts as Muslims eat Halal Meat, as you stated. Bizarre statements like that weaken your argument. And I fail to see why a vegan cleaning up their pet dog’s poop or not is the basis for you taking them seriously.
Catholic Convert,
No one wants to see animals suffer. However, animals are better protected today than ever before. In fact, they have more protection than unborn babies.
Petrus,
A first class point. Even unborn animals are better protected – I read something recently on that subject but don’t have the time to search for it, but in these crazy times, I know you will have no problem believing me. I believe me, so why wouldn’t you? Beliefs play a big part in my life…
http://www.kappit.com/img/pics/65544303ahigd_sm.jpg
Editor,
Did you mention “search”? That happens to be my middle name:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/why-do-abortion-supporters-and-the-law-care-more-for-baby-animals-than-baby
RCA Victor,
Your middle name is “WonderMan”!
That’s a very interesting article and it moved me to continue my search for the article on the protest for the protection of unborn animals (can’t remember for sure, but “monkeys” keep coming to mind.. say nothing.) Still, I can’t find anything. I know it is out there somewhere, because I’m sure it was posted at the time, possibly by Wendy, our resident pro-lifer, on one of the pro-life threads.
Anyway. I found this picture below, in images, noting the link being made between cruelty to animals and the animals’ mothers… “Inconsistent” being the middle name of the animal rights’ brigade.
https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Miss-my-Mom-Dairy-Demo-Vancouver-Young-Girl.jpg
Editor,
Cow’s milk is for baby cows – hilarious! But wait, I thought cows were part of the “global warming crisis”? You know, with all that methane they emit….
So if we can’t eat cow meat, can’t drink their milk either, and they are a partial cause for global warming, I say, let’s exterminate all cows! Or, as an alternate strategy, perhaps we could convince them to identify as another species, like horses.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/65/49/9c/65499c8ff0484f88b9a18252c6348aa7.jpg
Or perhaps we should just exterminate all PETA members who exhibit their PETA Principle…..
Editor,
Cow’s milk, by nature is for baby cows. It is produced to feed calves. The fact is, in the dairy industry, female cows are basically kept as brood mares to reproduce and lactate for human consumption. Had humans not bred cows on an industrial scale for meat and milk there would not be the billions of cattle on earth today.
Cow’s milk is for baby cows, as women’s milk is for human babies. Just because some men enjoy drinking women’s milk does not mean women’s breast milk is for that purpose.
CC,
My point was simply that they’re more interested in protecting baby cows and their mothers than unborn human babies and their mothers. That was my point.
CatholicConvert1,
I’m not clear on how abstaining from meat addresses animal welfare concerns. Are you saying that your refusal to eat meat makes animals suffer less, or get treated better? Please explain your reasoning.
I would think that a better reason not to eat meat is to avoid all the hormones and other chemicals that are injected into the animals before they are killed. In which case, though, the simple solution would be to eat organically-raised meat which is not fed harmful chemicals.
(One of my sisters recently opined that we shouldn’t eat meat because “it’s better for the planet.” I replied,….well. never mind, I can’t post what I replied….)
If you read my post, I said I eat very little meat. I eat fish and poultry. I rarely eat red meat, such as beef. My refusal to consume meat is based partly on animal welfare concerns, in the egg, dairy and meat industry, but also for health reasons, for reasons which you describe. The fact is, the human body is not designed to eat meat. According to an article on HuffPost:
Natural carnivores have claws, pointed front teeth to tear raw flesh and no pores on the skin so they perspire through the tongue. Plant and fish eaters perspire through pores on the skin since they are searching for food during hot hours — not hunting at sunrise, sunset or under cover of darkness as carnivores do. Carnivores also have a shorter intestinal tract than plant and fish eaters do so rapidly decaying carcasses in the stomach can pass out of the body quickly. Herbivores and omnivores have an intestinal tract that is several times their body length since a mostly plant-based diet doesn’t include food that decays as quickly. The human intestinal tract is about 25 feet long. Doesn’t that tell you something?
Fish on the other hand are digested much, much quicker than red meat. The omega-3 fatty acids that are in fish and seafood are necessary in the diet of a human being — fish is the only true source of the omega-3 acids DHA and EPA. There is no supplement that needs to be taken when the flesh of land animals is cut out of the diet; it only improves your health to not eat this kind of meat.
Catholic Convert 1,
All during the Brexit discussions I kept hearing the “remoaners” saying they were concerned that our very high standards of animal welfare and food supply etc would be endangered if we left the EU, so now I’m puzzled at the rush of vegans telling us they don’t eat meat out of concerns about animal welfare and food safety even while we’re still IN the EU.
I am not giving up my steaks for anyone! On this, I trust the government, LOL!
CC1,
We actually have similar diets: I eat fowl and fish almost exclusively, because meat tends to clog up my intestines unless it’s really high quality beef, like filet mignon or prime rib. But I would never go as far as to claim this as a lifestyle, or a philosophy, or a religion…or a right, for that matter (not that you did, I’m just pointing that out).
But, speaking as one traditionalist to another, you should avoid sites like Huffington Post, which is notoriously leftist, i.e. anti-Christian and anti-Western Civilization.
Your interesting post sent me to Genesis 1, where I found this:
“[29] And God said: Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed upon the earth, and all trees that have in themselves seed of their own kind, to be your meat: [30] And to all beasts of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to all that move upon the earth, and wherein there is life, that they may have to feed upon. And it was so done.”
So apparently, if I’m reading this correctly, God didn’t make man to eat the meat of beasts – at least, not before man fell.
However, in the story of Noah, we find this (Ch. 9):
“[1] And God blessed Noe and his sons. And he said to them: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth. [2] And let the fear and dread of you be upon all the beasts of the earth, and upon all the fowls of the air, and all that move upon the earth: all the fishes of the sea are delivered into your hand. [3] And every thing that moveth and liveth shall be meat for you: even as the green herbs have I delivered them all to you: [4] Saving that flesh with blood you shall not eat. [5] For I will require the blood of your lives at the hand of every beast, and at the hand of man, at the hand of every man, and of his brother, will I require the life of man.”
So it appears that, after the flood, God supplemented man’s diet of seeds and herbs with meat. I’m not sure, though, which meats are covered by the prohibition of “flesh with blood.”
You all might find this “vegan doctor” entertaining (he speaks as though he was raised on cartoon characters and TV sitcoms) – and also very revealing about the deficiencies of a vegan diet, and the myths surrounding its alleged superiority:
RCA Victor,
I’ve watched the first bit of the video and I can tell it’s going to be entertaining – he is my kind of guy, from what I’ve heard so far, but I’ll have to wait a bit to see the entire film, due to shortage of time. Being the editor of an international publication, on stand-by in case of a call from the Vatican, I just can’t spend my every waking moment looking at YouTube videos. Get real 😀 However, I’m already laughing at the idea of it – 40 year old Vegan dies of a heart attack! God might well be sending us a message, there… As also…
I couldn’t help thinking, as I watched the terrible fires in Australia, of the irony in the exhortations we keep getting to do something to “save the planet”, with “plant a tree” being high on the list, especially the celebrities’ lists. And here we have whole forests of trees being destroyed despite the heroic efforts of the firefighters on the ground – one of whom said today that only some rain would help them now. Er.. well…If only they would think, think, think. And when they’ve done that, think again.
Reminds me of a dreadful winter we had here in Scotland some years ago – snow fell thick and fast and stayed put. Nation at a standstill. Main news item on every TV and radio broadcast. Interview after interview with “experts”, report after report all pouring over what could be done to clear the snow, how it was affecting the country’s transport and business etc. Days and days it went on, and then finally, a reporter smiling to camera, a close up shot, all we could see was him, head and shoulders, going over the past days and all the reports, all the political promises about improving the preparation for such weather in future, the mechanics to deal with it when it came and then, he slowly spread out his hands as the camera moved slowly out to reveal the land around him minus the snow – completely cleared … with no help from any technology. Just a case of God sending the weather to melt the snow.
It really isn’t rocket science, as they say – or even the science of meteorology!
Editor,
In addition to this doctor being highly entertaining, he unwittingly admits that veganism as a health option is pure bunk – unless, of course, you take (as he recommends well into the video) your vitamin B-12 and 1-2 tablespoons of ground flax seed a day. And that’s just in order to have an equal chance of living as long as consumers of McDonald’s Big Macs….
RCA Victor,
That’s what I often wonder about – how do these vegans and vegetarians make up the nutrients they’d get from meat? If it’s vitamin pills, LOL!
Josephine,
How about this for a crazy conspiracy theory: the New World Order is based on Marxism, which is atheistic materialism. That is, we are only useful to the state as long as we are economically productive.
Medical science has now prolonged the average lifespan, but the question is, are we economically productive in our old age? No, not so much (well,except for Editor and her international apostolate…). So what better way than veganism to shorten life spans to match economic productivity by promoting deficient diets? Not only not as controversial as euthanasia, but to the gullible, downright appealing.
And btw, putting cattle ranchers – notoriously rebellious against tyranny – out of business into the bargain.
RCA Victor,
That is a humdinger of a conspiracy theory, it really is, but it has the ring of truth to it, IMHO.
Editor,
That’s a very interesting point about the “plant a tree” etc. God is definitely telling us that he’s in charge of the weather, IMHO.
Speaking to my children today I was saying that a family friend of ours went out to Africa to help in an orphanage. I was impressed. It was a monkey “orphanage” can you believe it?!!! This same family have 6 children, none of which practise the Faith. I pointed out to a person today that we, as parents, took out children out of school on Holy Days and Holy week. No other parents did and, guess what? Our children, now young adults, are the only practising Catholics in the parish. Tragic and a dire reflection on the episcopacy. Bishop, Thank you for nothing! Without us parents, our children would be apostates, like the rest of the young people in the parish! And, one day you, the bishop, will stand before the Judgement seat of God and be asked for an account of your stewardship and I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.
I am reading Bishop Athanasius Schneider’s book Christus Vincit and I recommend all clergy, especially, to read it ..Chapter 6 would be a good start.
Crofterlady,
We are living in a world where the inmates are running the asylum – or in this case, the orphanage. A monkey orphanage? That’s just….bananas….
RCA Victor,
“… bananas” LOL!
It occurred to me this morning that I had not looked into “ethical veganism,” which is the focus of this story and topic, rather than just your run-of-the-mill veganism. What I found was rather revealing:
1. The beginning of the story we are discussing, from 2018: https://www.themonastery.org/blog/is-veganism-a-religion-u-k-man-alleges-religious-discrimination-in-firing
in which ethical veganism is defined as follows:
“Dietary vegans eat a plant-based diet, avoiding anything produced or gathered from animals such as honey, eggs, butter, and milk. Ethical veganism includes the same dietary restrictions, but it features an underlying philosophical component that informs other aspects of life. Within this movement is an activist faction that routinely organizes protests and other awareness-raising events. Ethical vegans oppose the use animal products in all consumer products not just food. They vigorously oppose scientific testing on animals and the use of use leather or fur in clothing. Ethical veganism requires making choices every day about what type of clothes to wear, what personal products to use, and what hobbies to take part in. Above all, this philosophy is committed to ensuring the least amount of harm against animals as possible.”
Philosophy? Nope, just more socialism in pagan disguise, promoted with in-your-face tactics by people who want to control everyone else. In other words, these people, with their deluded messianic zeal, are useful idiots, proxies for the plutocrats who are pulling the strings behind the scenes. THEY are the “people who want to control everyone else.”
RCA Victor,
That’s a ridiculous definition to use to claim veganism is a philosophy or religion. As you say, these are people who want to control everyone else.
Some of the stuff in that definition applies to everyone – e.g. the making choices every day about what to wear is what every woman does every day, and add make-up and accessories to the list, LOL! Also, being an activist, organising protests – would that include the public rosaries which Catholic Truth organise from time to time? The whole thing’s a nonsense.
RCA Victor
I think MM has said it all, there. The idea that veganism – ethical or otherwise – is a philosophy is really daft. And even if it were a philosophy, so what?
http://www.workjoke.com/images/finalexam.gif
Editor and MM,
My philosophy is, if it walks like a vegan and talks like a vegan then it can’t be a philosopher…
RCA Victor,
Love it !
Here’s Piers Morgan on the subject of veganism – hilarious!
When we consider that one is now free to define one’s own gender, with apparently around 12 or 13 options available, including non-binary, I suppose this latest ruling is yet another sign of what happens when society rejects God. Divine wisdom gives place to the “light” of the Prince of Darkness and all rejoice in their new-found their “liberation”. Poor deluded souls!
This is another example of the baffling and often concerning judgements coming out of UK courts.
I wonder what unforeseen implications this legal nonsense could bring?
People can eat what they please, of course, but it is very clear that God intends that human beings are omnivores.
In my personal life, I know one vegetarian and one vegan. (In addition, the vegan is notorious for having a long list of things which they are “intolerant of”, “allergic to”, or “tend to avoid” etc.)
The irony is that they are the two fattest people I know and so there is definitely something amiss here. After all, vegetables are not fattening.
I feel like asking: you don’t eat this, you cant eat that, you avoid this – how do you manage to be so fat?
I could lose (more than) a few pounds myself, but that is because I am too fond of beer and crisps, so my waist line is easily explained!
Gabriel Syme,
I suspect that the fine print of the “vegan” movement, given its dictatorial behavior, is to ensure that people can NOT eat what they please, but must conform to whatever the almighty state, acting through its proxies, decides that people are allowed to eat.
Gabriel Syme,
“The irony is that [the vegan and vegetarian] are the two fattest people I know and so there is definitely something amiss here. After all, vegetables are not fattening. “
Hilarious!
A friend who works in a café told me that, since the New Year, they have been run of their feet with people wanting bacon rolls and Lorne sausage rolls. So much so that they have had to increase their order for bacon and sausage. She is convinced that it’s a backlash against veganism.
Vianney,
That’s really comical – I’m delighted that your friend’s café is thriving on bacon rolls and sausage rolls. I honestly think these fads are only followed by a minority – and a very small minority – of the population at that. Only my opinion, of course – I don’t have any statistics to quote – but in conversations with Joe & Josephine Bloggs, here, there and everywhere, I’ve yet to meet anyone who takes any of these fads from food fads to climate change, seriously. Maybe I’m only meeting the lower classes right enough… Perhaps all the “clever” folks are studying for Degrees in Vegetables or similar, and they will agree that veganism is a religion not a “fad”… 😀
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