COMMENTARY: Episcopal Church Gone to the Dogs by Carrying Out Its Recent Liberal Policies

The Episcopal Church (TEC) -- the Anglican branch in the United States -- has become extremely liberal by adopting new policies in recent years, but for TEC to have a monthly Sunday worship service for dogs is a mind-boggling and ridiculous plan.

Yet, that is what the Calvary Episcopal Church in Danvers, Massachusetts has decided to do beginning this month (May 2010). This church will offer a "Perfect Paws Pet Ministry" service on the third Sunday of every month.

This service is aimed at giving dogs and their owners improved odds at getting into heaven. The service will include communion for humans and special blessings for dogs.

Dogs will be allowed to bark during the church service, according to Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas, pastor of the Calvary Episcopal Church. Dogs will also be provided with light snacks.

While this may seem like a humorous and modern idea to some worshipers, others see it as a sacrilegious act toward God and His Home. The fact is that Christ began His Church for human beings to worship, not animals.

To have a monthly service for dogs contradicts the teachings of Christ. While Christ believed that people should be kind to animals, He never placed them at the same level of respect and love as He did for human beings.

I believe that having a monthly church service for dogs is a ploy by the Danvers church, designed to get dog owners to attend church services who would not normally do so.

Nevertheless, TEC -- as it has done in recent years -- will do almost anything that is un-Christian, in an effort to to attract churchgoers with its modern liberal policies. TEC's election of two openly gay bishops -- one in 2003 and the other in 2010 -- further illustrates its audacious defiance of Christian doctrine.

Having church services ministering to dogs is the wrong approach for TEC to take, because such services make a mockery of the Christian Church and what it represents. Canine services are, indeed, an insult to God, and to all devoted Christians throughout the world.