Criticism of Hubertus mass in Pfäfers

On October 26, 2025 at 09:00, a Hubertus mass with the «JagdhornBrass Allegro» is scheduled to take place in the Catholic Church of the Assumption of Mary in Pfäfers. IG Wild beim Wild sharply criticizes this event and calls on the church to clearly distance itself from hunting and its glorification.

Hubertus masses, which are mainly attended and co-organized by militant hobby hunters, contradict all Christian ethics from IG Wild beim Wild's perspective. Instead of teaching respect for life, they symbolically grant blessing for killing.

«Celebrating a religious service that gives hunters church backing for killing defenseless fellow creatures sends a completely wrong signal», says Julia Bielecki, theologian. «Churches must stand for the preservation of creation, not for its destruction.»

There are people who shape their daily lives with untruths, brute force, hatred and falsehood. Such beings like to join hunting associations and hunting horn groups and wallow with like-minded individuals in this breeding ground.

As with military signal trumpets, hunting horns are predominantly variants of the natural trumpet with a very limited, primitive and unusual tonal range for the war music of hobby hunters. Such events are hoped to recruit new members for the sectarian and violence-prone hunting associations.

Recreational hunters spread unspeakable suffering, terror and misery among both humans and wild animals. Practically everything that is cruel, unnecessary and heartless is promoted by hunting associations, as a court in Bellinzona recentlya court in Bellinzonaconfirmed.

Recreational hunters practice speciesism. Speciesism is comparable to racism and sexism, and this is not culture or tradition.

Hunting exacerbates the problem instead of solving it

The IG references numerous scientific studies that prove hunting is not suitable for permanently regulating wildlife populations. Particularly with wild boar, raccoons or foxes, high hunting pressure causes the animals to reach sexual maturity earlier and reproduce faster. «Whoever shoots more and more creates not less, but more animal cruelty», states the IG.

Added to this are the massive animal welfare problems: In driven hunts, according to the Veterinary Association for Animal Protection, up to two-thirds of animals hit do not die immediately. They flee with shattered bones or open wounds and often die in agony after days.

Distorted Hubertus legend

The Hubertus mass invokes the legend of Saint Hubertus, but misunderstands its core. After encountering the cross-bearing stag, Hubertus ended hunting and turned to Christ.«The actual message is to live in peace with animals – not to chase, injure and kill them», states the IG.

Christianity is a religion of mercy and respect for life. Nowhere in the Bible is there any indication that Christ hunted animals. On the contrary: «Thou shalt not kill» applies universally.

Appeal to the Church

IG Wild beim Wild urgently calls on church representatives to distance themselves from violence-glorifying Hubertus masses and to accept their responsibility for preserving creation. «Whoever blesses animals in God's name only to subsequently have them killed senselessly mocks the Gospel and becomes complicit in senseless animal suffering.»

As a hunting horn player, one engages in public relations work particularly at the Hubertus mass. «We are essentially the mouthpiece of hunting, the communication medium between hunters and the population», explains recreational hunter Buri-Frank.