Compassion for animals — is it relevent to Catholics?

Jul 28, 2016

Dear Editor,

I would like to ask if compassion, kindness and respect for life towards animals is truly a Catholic value. Does it have any place within the Catholic Church? Is it relevant?

I have attended Sunday School and along with non-Catholic friends, also the RCIA and numerous Bible lessons. Yet, it appears that Compassion towards animals is sorely lacking. Nowhere in Scripture does it explicitly mention that Catholics must be kind and compassionate towards animals.

Consequently, since it is ‘missing’ from Catholic lessons, I actually have Catholic friends who argue that it is ok to kill and smash to death strays, as well as abuse and poison stray animals. That it is not a sin, since God did not say it in the Bible. I was labelled as “evil” because I had stood up for these strays —telling these Catholics that it is wrong to do so.

I am really wondering if it is I, who am in the wrong, since everyone is calling me evil and the devil’s advocate for not doing the same. Perhaps it is a sin I should confess? That I, who had fed and treated these strays with kindness, had really wronged God and these people. That it is certainly ok to abuse and throw firecrackers at stray animals, not to mention killing them in any way possible, be it by poison or smashing them to death.

It is interesting to note that this point is also conspicously missing in Catholic discussions. No priest nor Catholic shepherd has ever spoken of treating these innocent creatures with respect.

I would appreciate if HERALD can clear this up for me.

Nova J
Via Email