Nun Won’t Apologize After Viral Photo Sparks Outrage
A nun from St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania has sparked an angry backlash after posting a Facebook photo, which is now going viral. Fox 28 News reports that Sister John Paul Bauer doesn’t plan on apologizing to anybody who is offended by the photo of a 10-point buck she posted, after killing the animal.
The viral photo showed Sister John Paul Bauer standing next to a deer, which she had just shot from a tree-stand. She bagged the largest buck that day, the opening day of deer-hunting season. She says while she was up in the tree-stand, she prayed on her rosary, watching as a handful of deer walked by her line of sight. She shot the buck, allowing the does to pass.
As a child, the Pennsylvania nun was reportedly never invited to go hunting with her father and brothers, but she did learn to shoot after joining the military. Since becoming a nun, she has gone hunting a handful of times and has even bagged herself a bear about five years ago.
Big buck, special memory for Pennsylvania nun: Deer hunting 2015 https://t.co/oArO7rKVBf pic.twitter.com/dfwdD9FjaF
— Hunting (@hunting_rr) December 6, 2015
#SisterJohnPaulBauer is packing some serious heat! However, I wish she’d just shoot at targets? https://t.co/GWeh4WXzwi
— Mark in SoCal (@mlzema) December 5, 2015
Fact, you can’t have an intelligent conversation about wildlife and land management with animal activist. https://t.co/Vbn9Q2lL7u
— taby katt (@tabykatt_) December 6, 2015
When Sister John Paul posted the photo of her trophy kill, she didn’t expect the social media backlash she’d get — nor could she have anticipated that her photo would go viral on the Internet. Nonetheless, she’s not budging from her point of view on this matter. She believes she’s done nothing wrong, and any of the folks on social media who have expressed outrage just need to “get over it.” America News reports that the nun doesn’t seem to care that so many people are angry that she killed a deer, and her response conveyed that sentiment.
“In St. Marys, this is what you do. You go hunting. And everybody goes hunting. The coach, myself, the students.”
She also defends killing the deer, saying the animals would starve (overpopulation) if they aren’t hunted. On social media, people are still outraged that this “nun with a gun” killed what they see as a defenseless animal. On the other hand, there are numerous people who completely support Sister John Paul’s actions. In fact, it appears that most people on Twitter, as of Sunday, are in support of this nun’s right to hunt — while others are simply wondering why this is even an issue.
@BarracudaMama #This nun has used a gun to kill a deer for fun and atrocity is done and she won’t be forgiven by Heaven for this sin son.
— mvvenkataraman (@mvvenkataraman) December 6, 2015
Really? They would starve if you didn’t kill em. Nope, now you left babies fatherless. Spiritual, tradition, like… https://t.co/6DVKqMQsjW
— Lisa Lane (@lisalane647) December 6, 2015
A nun she doesn’t deserve the honor… Sharing again hopping it will reach the Pope’s ears… https://t.co/a2m24RkFT0
— D.Karagiannakis (@D_Karagiannakis) December 5, 2015
This is awesome! Nun kills 10-point deer, draws social-media fire – WSMV Channel 4 https://t.co/FnqBpkgZy3
— Melinda C (@MellyMcSmelly) December 5, 2015
Do you support the nun’s decision to go deer hunting, or do you think it’s a barbaric act that is cruel to animals? Regardless of any opinions circulating about this viral photo, it does seem that Sister John Paul is proud of herself, and enjoys this outdoor hobby as much as she sees it as a necessity. Her actions may seem barbaric to some. To others, hunting is a way of life.
[Photo via Sister John Paul Bauer Facebook]
