PAWS calls out Malabon church for using live dove during Easter 'Salubong' event
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society condemned a Malabon church for using a live dove as a prop in its Easter Salubong event, stressing that cruelty has "no place in religious celebrations" or at any public or private event.
In its statement on Tuesday, April 7, the non-government organization stressed that they are "deeply concerned and shocked" by the use of the bird as a prop during the mass on Easter Sunday, April 5, at The Diocesan Shrine & Parish of Immaculate Conception in Malabon.
During the event, after the Blessed Virgin Mary’s procession to the church, live birds flew from the ceiling. Later, one bird was tied to a string, its wings forcibly spread with a stick, and hoisted down solely to remove the cloth covering the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
"But the suffering did not end there. The dove was tied to balloons, and the balloons were released, killing the bird and polluting the environment in the process," PAWS added.
The organization added that while it respects the sincerity and devotion involved in bringing the Easter story to life, using a live animal in a way that causes distress or harm contradicts "the values of compassion, stewardship, and care for all of creation."
"Faith traditions have long upheld kindness to all living creatures as an essential principle. In this spirit, we call for a more humane approach to religious presentation where both the solemnity of worship and the dignity and welfare of animals is maintained," it added.
"Cruelty has no place in religious celebrations or in any type of gathering in our society. We hope that our shared values of care and devotion for the practice of faith will move us to show the same care and kindness to animals that are entrusted to us," it stressed.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan said he was unaware of the act.
“Had I known, I would have objected,” David said, as per CBCP. “This is not only cruel to the animal, but also harmful to the environment, especially to marine life that may ingest deflated balloons.”
According to him, the church opted for a dove as a "safer" alternative to the traditional flying angel. He added that he expected the dove to fly off freely once it was revealed, without any strings or balloons attached.
David said that the practice "will be discontinued.”
“There will be no more balloon-flying in future celebrations, and the dove will be released immediately after the unveiling,” he added.
The Diocesan Shrine & Parish of Immaculate Conception in Malabon has yet to release a statement regarding the incident.
