How the Vatican views animals, and why Christians should care

April 17, 2008

Maybe we should vote Pope Benedict for President! [Harvard Crimson - opinion - comments at full story link]How the Vatican views animals, and why Christians should care...As 41,000 devout Catholics crowd the new Washington Nationals Stadiumthis morning for a Holy Mass led by Pope Benedict XVI, animalprotection is not likely to be on their minds. Amid the greatquestions of war, justice, and life, animals might also appear ahumble concern for the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.But the Pope himself has suggested that the issue of animal protectionis far from irrelevant to the Catholic faith.When a German journalist put the issue to the then Cardinal Ratzingerin 2002, he received a surprising answer. The Pontiff-to-be called theissue "very serious,"

detailing his theological belief that animalsare God's creatures, deserving of merciful treatment by man.Ratzinger specifically attacked the practice of factory farming, whichaffects 10 billion animals in America each year. "Certainly, a sort ofindustrial use of creatures, so that geese are fed in such a way as toproduce as large a liver as possible, or hens live so packed togetherthat they become just caricatures of birds, this degrading of livingcreatures to a commodity seems to me in fact to contradict therelationship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible," he said....With "creation care" a growing environmental movement in Americancongregations, animal protection will hopefully gain religious notice.In the meantime, Catholic priests can look to the words of PopeBenedict XV, the current Pontiff's namesake, who in 1915 enjoinedpriests to support the Italian SPCA, "that they may offer to theanimals

refuge from every suspicion of roughness, cruelty, orbarbarism, and lead men to understand from the beauty of creationsomething of the infinite perfection of their Creator."Lewis E. Bollard '09 is a social studies concentrator in KirklandHouse. His column appears on alternate Thursdays.-- full story:http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=523093

April 18, 2008

The Christian relationship with the (non-human) animals on our planet

perhaps comes from a much earlier source.

Apparently the Christian God gave the following command to the very

first humans - Adam and Eve:

" Be fruitfull and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and

have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the

heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth "

- Genesis 1:28

Haven't we done well!

Roger

egroup: peninsulabadgers/

website: www.stopthecull.info

, Shannon Morgan

<fortheanmls wrote:

>

> Maybe we should vote Pope Benedict for President!

>

> [Harvard Crimson - opinion - comments at full story link]

>

> How the Vatican views animals, and why Christians should care

> ....

> As 41,000 devout Catholics crowd the new Washington Nationals Stadium

> this morning for a Holy Mass led by Pope Benedict XVI, animal

> protection is not likely to be on their minds. Amid the great

> questions of war, justice, and life, animals might also appear a

> humble concern for the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.

> But the Pope himself has suggested that the issue of animal protection

> is far from irrelevant to the Catholic faith.

>

> When a German journalist put the issue to the then Cardinal Ratzinger

> in 2002, he received a surprising answer. The Pontiff-to-be called the

> issue " very serious, " detailing his theological belief that animals

> are God's creatures, deserving of merciful treatment by man.

>

> Ratzinger specifically attacked the practice of factory farming, which

> affects 10 billion animals in America each year. " 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

> relationship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible, " he said.

> ....

> With " creation care " a growing environmental movement in American

> congregations, animal protection will hopefully gain religious notice.

> In the meantime, Catholic priests can look to the words of Pope

> Benedict XV, the current Pontiff's namesake, who in 1915 enjoined

> priests to support the Italian SPCA, " that they may offer to the

> animals refuge from every suspicion of roughness, cruelty, or

> barbarism, and lead men to understand from the beauty of creation

> something of the infinite perfection of their Creator. "

>

> Lewis E. Bollard '09 is a social studies concentrator in Kirkland

> House. His column appears on alternate Thursdays.

>

> --

> full story:

> http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=523093

http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join

>

April 18, 2008

Shannon,

Thanks so much for the article on the Pope. I learned about his passion for animals a few years ago. Italy is also becoming very concerned with animal welfare and I recently heard that there is concern about goldfish and the impact on their quality of life as they spend lonely days in a small glass bowl. I believe I heard there is pending legal action which would outlaw goldfish as pets. Feral cat populations were also a topic of concern for the Italians. So, I agree with you that perhaps we should ask the Pope to run for office...it appears he has a very kind heart toward animals.

Marilyn.

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains un-awakened!"

- My soul never sleeps!

Mother Teresa

Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage. - Sri Aurobindo