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| The Church and animal persecution (Q&A) Translation from Famiglia Cristiana (Christian family) n.9/2002 pg11. The Church condemns racism: why does it not understand that it has to enter in this concept even persecution of animals? If they feel the same pain as us, why vindicate only the protection of our own race (species) and remain indifferent to the suffering of poor animals who, as we now know, are similar to us in everything? Why not extend protection even to them? Even their genes are nearly identical to ours! So? More equal than this! Why doesn't the Church feel ashamed of staying unjustly only on the side of it's own race (species)? What difference is there between us and animals apart from them being more "furry" and us not yet understanding their vocal communication? I see that an evolution is necessary. Remaining static does no good even to the same doctrine. Signed letter. |
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| A copy of the full Pastoral Letter may be found in the Downloads page. Also of interest should be the article by Bishop Nikol Cauchi "Animal Rights and Wrongs", also in the Downloads page. |
| In the biblical doctrine on creation there is enough to justify that evolution of our actions with regards to animals which our reader augurs. Unfortunately, it is our interests that put a veil to our eyes, distorting our way of seeing the world. To be more specific: The Bible presents creation as something totally ordered, where the talents of everyone should be put to the service of all. The particular place which humans occupy within the living, in view of their intelligence and industriousness, is not a privilege, but a duty of custody and care. But egoistic interests - in religious terms: sin - have induced us to interpret our role as total dominion, and the order of creation as an arbitrary right to do that which degrades those below us. Shall we one day succeed in feeling ashamed of the way we treat animals today, the same way we feel ashamed of slavery, the oppression of women and wars (all being behaviour which we have justified in the name of religion)? I hope so. But we have a long way to go. D.A. |
| Caring for creation and the environment Excerpts from the media reports on the Pastoral letter released by the Maltese bishops to mark the feast of the Assumption (Thursday 15th August 2002). The pastoral letter released by the Maltese bishops to mark the feast of the Assumption focused on the environment and caring for creation. "In the world in which we live", the bishops wrote, "today more than yesterday, we have to show our love for God and our neighbour also in the degree and in the manner we appreciate creation." The bishops also stressed that "it must never be that, in spite of our laws, people are allowed to destroy or cause irresponsible damage to creation, nature or the environment". "Families are the front-runners in striving for the laws and institutions to fully support and defend creation and the natural environment. Families can change society for the better. Families should also give a sound formation to their children; by word and deed they should teach them to love, appreciate and safeguard creation, nature and the environment." "A society that enhances love and respect for creation is investing in citizens with strong character. The strongest bulwark society may have against the vilification of creation and the environment - for example when animals are killed or tortured, when plants and trees are capriciously or egoistically destroyed, when the common natural heritage suffers devastation due to financial greed, and when there is uncontrolled pollution - is found primarily in disciplined citizens of good character. We bishops feel sad when we hear about lack of respect, harsh cruelty or brutal killing of animals, as has occasionally happened". "In our commitment for the preservation of creation and the environment, we look for Mary's help. The Mother of the Lord of Creation will certainly help us", the bishops concluded. |
| St Francis Foundation for Animals - c/o 8, Pacifiku Scicluna Street, Vittoriosa, Malta - email: stfrancisfoundation@gmail.com - HSBC account 040001034050 |
| Pope Benedict XVI's views on animals "Certainly, a sort of industrial use of creatures, so that geese are fed in such a way as to produce as large a liver as possible, or hens live so packed together that they become just caricatures of birds, this degrading of living creatures to a commodity seems to me in fact to contradict the realtionship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible." Perhaps you know about Pope John Paul II's love of animals, being the first pope to proclaim that "the animals possess a soul and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren", and that animals are "fruit of the creative action of the Holy Spirit and merit respect" and are "as near to God as men are". But what about Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI on the 19th April? This is what he said when interviewed by German journalist Peter Seewald when he was Cardinal. Seewald: Are we allowed to make use of animals, and even to eat them? Ratzinger: That is a very serious question. At any rate, we can see that they are given into our care, that we cannot just do whatever we want with them. Animals, too, are God's creatures, and even if they do not have the same direct relation to God that man has, they are creatures of his will, creatures we must respect as companions in creation and as important elements in the creation. As far as whether we are allowed to kill and to eat animals, there is a remarkable ordering of matters in the Holy Scripture. We can read how, at first, only plants are mentioned as providing food for man. Only after the flood, that is to say, after a new breach has been opened between God and man, are we told that man eats flesh...Nonetheless...we should not proceed from this to any kind of sectarian cult of animals. For this, too, is permitted to man. He should always maintain his respect for these creatures, but he knows at the same time that he is not forbidden to take food from them. Certainly, a sort of industrial use of creatures, so that geese are fed in such a way as to produce as large a liver as possible, or hens live so packed together that they become just caricatures of birds, this degrading of living creatures to a commodity seems to me in fact to contradict the realtionship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible. And as reported in KnightRidder newspapers, when he was cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI was also known for his love of cats and used to care for cats near a church in Campasanto Teutonico near St. Peter's Basilica. "I went with him once," said Konrad Baumgartner, the head of the theology department at Regensburg University. "Afterwards, he went into the old cemetery behind the church. It was full of cats, and when he went out, they all ran to him. They knew him and loved him. He stood there, petting some and talking to them, for quite a long time. He visited the cats whenever he visited the church. His love for cats is quite famous". |
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