PETA Mistakenly Targets Alaska Church

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- The pastor at Anchorage First Free Methodist Church was mystified. Why was the activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals chastising him? No animals are harmed in the church's holiday nativity display. In fact, animals aren't used at all.

People, however, do dress the parts -- Mary, Joseph, the wise men, etc. The volunteers stand shivering at a manger on the church lawn in a silent tribute to Christmas.

The Rev. Jason Armstrong was confused by an e-mail this week from PETA, which admonished him for subjecting animals ''to cruel treatment and danger,'' by forcing them into roles in the church's annual manger scene.

''We've never had live animals, so I just figured this was some spam thing,'' Armstrong said. ''It's rough enough on us people standing out there in the cold. So we're definitely not using animals.''

Ooops. Details here from the AP.