URGENT NEWS ADVISORY

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Contact:  Steve Hindi (630) 640-1889    Stuart Chaifetz  (856) 428- 2635 

Video Released Documents Catholic Church Broke Wisconsin Animal Fighting Laws, Endangered Children's Health at 'Pig Rassling' Event; SHARK Offers $10,000 to Church to End Use of Pigs   

GREEN BAY, WI – Video evidence presented to the news media Thursday documented that a "Pig Rassling" event sponsored by the Catholic Church in Stephensville, and supported by the Catholic Diocese here broke state anti-cruelty and child endangerment laws.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDxSW2LWh9U

SHARK, an international animal protection group, said it is providing the evidence and filing a complaint with state police and Wisconsin Attorney General's Office because local police have shown they cannot be trusted to make arrests.

The video previewed Thursday clearly shows youths wallowing in mud contaminated by pig urine and excrement as they try to catch a traumatized pig. The videos illustrate violations of state anti-cruelty and animal righting laws, and child neglect laws. Spectators, organizers and participants could be charged with a misdemeanor or felony.

SHARK President Steve Hindi also said he would personally offer $10,000 – more than 3 times what the "Pig Rassling" event nets – to the Catholic Church if it would stop using pigs for the event, and replace them with the local sheriff, and others, including priests and the bishops.

After a news conference, Hindi made that offer to a spokesperson for the Bishop at the Diocese.

SHARK also provided information that the event was cancelled in 1995 after an Assistant District Attorney – Mitchell Metropulos, now an Outagamie County Circuit Court judge –  said the event would be breaking state laws. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1683&dat=19950728&id=DqMaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_CwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3373,3128379