The Web of Life is One
The web of life is one. Creation has integrity and an inherent value beyond its usefulness to human beings. Human beings are to be responsible stewards of creation. In that activity they work in harmony with God as co-creators. Animals are to be treated with dignity and respect. The sin of "species-ism" is becoming more clearly acknowledged and recognized. We cannot do whatever we want with the created order. Adequate science, common sense and appropriate values will teach us to respect the web of life and each member of it.
The web of life is one. The way we treat animals is of moral significance. We cannot casually inflict pain on them or treat them as if they were inert beings or stones. Their modes of living deserve study and appreciation. They do not deserve wholesale destruction and obliteration. Animal welfare should be a moral concern.
The National Catholic Rural Life Conference supports the replacement of animal factories by sustainable and humane agricultural systems that are environmentally safe, economically viable, and socially just and species appropriate. To quote Bishop Pilla of Cleveland, "There is a significant challenge facing rural communities – the so called "mega-farms" in which land is regarded as a factory and people as interchangeable parts. Unfortunately, farms have been increasingly viewed as production centers whose only bottom line is economics. Simply put, this perspective is not consistent with Catholic Social Teaching." (Homily, February 27, 2000)
The bishops of Indiana wrote, "The variety of forms of God’s creatures – biodiversity – is one of the gifts of the Creator that we must cherish. The Fathers and theologians of the Church were convinced that the diversity of creatures is essential to show forth the glory of God: no creature can adequately reveal God to us but the very great variety of created beings does better at this than any single species. Thus, if we cause the extinction of species, we are diminishing the glory of God." (Care for the Earth, Indiana Catholic Conference, May, 2000)
Eating is a Moral Act
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