Thou Shalt Not Kill
At ISKCON's Paris center Śrīla Prabhupāda talks with Cardinal Jean Daniélou: "the Bible does not simply say, 'Do not kill the human being.' It says broadly, 'Thou shalt not kill.' . . . Why do you interpret this to suit your own convenience? . . . When there is no food, someone may eat meat in order to keep from starving. That is another thing. But it is most sinful to regularly maintain slaughterhouses just to satisfy your tongue."
Śrīla Prabhupāda:  Jesus Christ said, "Thou shalt not kill." So why is it that the Christian people are engaged in animal killing?
Cardinal Daniélou:  Certainly in Christianity it is forbidden to kill, but we believe that there is a difference between the life of a human being and the life of the beasts. The life of a human being is sacred because man is made in the image of God; therefore, to kill a human being is forbidden.
Śrīla Prabhupāda:  But the Bible does not simply say, "Do not kill the human being." It says broadly, "Thou shalt not kill."
Cardinal Daniélou:  We believe that only human life is sacred.
Śrīla Prabhupāda:  That is your interpretation. The commandment is "Thou shalt not kill."
Cardinal Daniélou:  It is necessary for man to kill animals in order to have food to eat.
Śrīla Prabhupāda:  No. Man can eat grains, vegetables, fruits, and milk.
Cardinal Daniélou:  No flesh?
Śrīla Prabhupāda:  No. Human beings are meant to eat vegetarian food. The tiger does not come to eat your fruits. His prescribed food is animal flesh. But man's food is vegetables, fruits, grains, and milk products. So how can you say that animal killing is not a sin?
Cardinal Daniélou:  We believe it is a question of motivation. If the killing of an animal is for giving food to the hungry, then it is justified.
Śrīla Prabhupāda:  But consider the cow: we drink her milk; therefore, she is our mother. Do you agree?
Cardinal Daniélou:  Yes, surely.
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