School serving "only" halal meat - interested in Chritian/Muslim views?

[Ladymuck]

I've been informed that ds's school has recently started only serving halal meat. They haven't communicated this to parents (or at least non-Muslim parents), and I have to say it is slightly confusing as to exactly what they do, other than it is certain that all beef is halal (they are still serving up ham sandwiches, so something is not entirely consist!).

All children eat school dinner - packed lunch is not an option. The school is private but with a "Church of England ethos", including Harvest festival, carol service, assemblies etc. The school has pupils with a huge range of backgrounds. In ds's class about a quarter are Muslim. As far as I can see the school has opted for the simplest option, so there isn't a non-halal main meal on offer.

For my own part I don't have any problem with ds eating halal meat. However there does seem to be some disquiet - apparently some of the Muslim mothers had been making various comments about the Christian and Jewish boys all eating meat blessed by Allah. In turn one of the mums is now making waves about "food offered to idols" being forbidden to Christians. Before we end up in a huge row I wanted to get some opinions.

• For Muslims, what are the implications of non-muslims eating halal? I wouldn't have expected there to be any, but it seems to have caused an issue here?

• For Christians, there seems to be an issue about meat offered to idols? Anyone come across this in their schools as I know a lot of London state schools now offer halal as the main meal (but I guess packed lunch is an option).

For those interested I think I worked out where the christian mum may be coming from (presuming it's not just a racist rumour )

Acts 15 they have a big council meeting in Jerusalem to decide what laws the gentile believers should have to stick to (e.g. do they need to get circumcised etc...)

They decided that (starting at v 19) 'my judgment is that we should stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God, except that we should write to them and tell them to abstain from eating meat sacrificed to idols, from sexual immorality, and from consuming blood or eating the meat of strangled animals'

But if they aren't going to eat halal meat, they shouldn't be eating any non-kosher meat either because it may still have blood in it. Or black pudding...

Just realised this is really old and not actually the thread I meant to post on
damn the search button...

Just read the whole thread before realising the joyful DominiConnor is not actually back

There are two sides to this.

The first is that, even if standard slaughter practices are not as humane as they could be, halal(and kosher)slaughter causes a lot more suffering. There have been big debates in the EU parliament about this recently. Why should religious groups get exemptions from the laws that the rest of us have to obey?

In some countries (New Zealand and some parts of Europe), Muslims accept meat from animals that have been stunned before their throats are cut - why not here?

Besides, why are the schools hiding the fact they only serve halal meat? Is it because they know parents will object?

The other side of the argument is that there have been exposees lately that a lot of meat sold as halal isn't - muslims are being conned.

Serving only halal meat in schools is a lazy option that is deliberately keeping kids and parents in the dark, denying them choice.

I am a Christian and, having initially been worried about the "humane slaughter" issue, and realising other methods are all as bad (maybe), I have NO problem from a religious point of view.

Mark 7:15 says "Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean"

so it is not going to affect you spiritually.

That being said, I would never look in the Hala/Kosher aisles at the Supermarket, but I would also never refuse food if eating with friends who had prepared food acccording to their beliefs (Can always offer a silent prayer of Thanks for this food before eating oit)

My DDs are at a Catholic school and their chicken is halal.

I think serving only halal meat is a lazy option.
Why not solve the different meats problem by going vegetarian, that would be equally valid.
Ex h was brought up Muslim, and he says that if halal slaughter is done properly, it is humane, because it is quick. According to him, the problem is, when a large number of animals are being slaughtered, it generally isnt done with enough care.

But not equally tasty

no, I disagree, that is a naive view of food, imo.

I can see why a school would go for what seems the easy option, but it's daft in the long run because you are basically doing things to placate those who would make a fuss if you didn't. Ignoring the rest because they probably won't care badly enough to complain.

What happens when along comes a religion/culture that requires people to eat pork for example? or anything that clashes with the ones you are currently dealing with.

Better to serve what is considered food by the mainstream culture and let anyone who has a problem with that make their own arrangements.