<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/religion" rel="" target="" title="prominent sect"><span>prominent sect</span></a><span> has denied telling members to euthanise their pets, but confirmed they have been urged to get rid of them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Members of the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/exclusive-brethren-church-melbourne-community-anger/60c4849c-3017-4f49-be4f-cc2007a583e9" rel="" target="" title="Plymouth Brethren Christian Church"><span>Plymouth Brethren Christian Church</span></a><span>, better known as the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/rosemary-stantons-exclusive-brethren-upbringing-and-eventual-escape/87d5aef7-db86-4803-a99e-4575a793ad70" rel="" target="" title="Exclusive Brethren"><span>Exclusive Brethren</span></a><span>, were told households needed to be "freshly cleansed" of animals after a relative of church leader Bruce Hales was attacked by a dog last month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/my-church-or-the-dog-brethren-orders-members-to-purge-pets-sparking-fears-of-global-cull-20260511-p5zvrp.html" rel="" target="" title="Sydney Morning Herald"><em><span>Sydney Morning Herald</span></em></a><span> reports a letter was read from church leadership to meetings across the country earlier this morning with the directive.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-china-warning-taiwan-warning-beijing-xi-jinping-world-news/af84902a-4097-4da8-a4af-1074d8bd66fb" rel="" target="" title="Trump's soft stance during China visit alarms Taiwan"><strong><span>Trump's soft stance during China visit alarms Taiwan</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The ownership of such an animal, let alone it being kept at a brother's home, is clearly wrong," the letter read.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are reports of some Brethren having reverted to owning pets, including dogs and other animals, which practice has been clearly spoken against in ministry. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The letter specified birds, mice and cats were also included in the directive, not just dogs.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/exclusive-brethren-sect-denies-telling-members-to-kill-their-pets/c1ab715e-d7ab-4d1c-a8d2-ea4b5196d411" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the 1960s the sect instructed members to euthanise their pets, stating that giving them away was sinful.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One blind man was reportedly cast out of the church for refusing to get rid of his guide dog.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the sect has now issued a statement denying reports members were told to euthanise their pets.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Very few families in the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church would keep pets, as we generally avoid distractions from family, faith and God, such as television, radio, or pet ownership," the statement read.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Following a traumatic incident in which a child was attacked by a dog at the home of a church member, our church's position on pets was restated to parishioners in May 2026. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This was not a 'new directive', but simply a reminder of a principle that was established some time ago."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The statement suggested the pets could be given to willing neighbours, colleagues or an animal shelter.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are aware of untrue and distressing online commentary which has misconstrued this as members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church being told to euthanise their pets," it read.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The church would never condone cruelty to any living creature, and this position is being strongly reinforced to our congregation. We have the utmost respect for all of God's creations."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are an estimated 16,000 members of the Exclusive Brethren in Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The secretive sect practices separating itself from society at large, including not voting in elections.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite this, the Liberals came under scrutiny in last year's election after it was revealed members of the sect were participating in organised campaigns backing the party.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-american-financial-situation-iran-usa-politics-news/461a3ba6-1091-439b-84ba-219d4d381e10"><strong><span>Donald Trump's latest comment will be used against him in November</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>