The pastor at Anchorage First Free Methodist Church was mystified. Why was the activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals chastising him?
No animals are harmed in the church's holiday nativity display. In fact, no animals are used, just people who dress the parts--Mary, Joseph, etc.
Rev. Jason Armstrong was confused by an e-mail last week from PETA that admonished him for subjecting animals "to cruel treatment and danger" by forcing them into roles in the church's annual manger scene.
Jackie Vergerio, PETA's captive animals in entertainment specialist, said the confusion started with the church's choice of phrase on its Web site. PETA flagged Free Methodist's display as a "living nativity." To PETA, that means animals.
"We have some puppet camel things we put out," Armstrong said. "We have a cow hood thing that a person will wear that actually just looks spooky."
The volunteers stand beneath a bright electric star as Christmas music fills the frosty air.
"No one's come by protesting or thrown bloodstained fur at us or anything," the pastor said. "We even use a plastic baby."
