Thinking About the Animals that Provide Food for Humanity

October 4 is the feast of St Francis of Assisi, a man noted for his love of creation and care of animals.  This is a good time to think about the treatment of the animals that provide food for humanity.  Click here to view the documentary video of the Humane Society, “Eating Mercifully.”

Sr. Rosemarie Greco Participates in Humane Society Documentary

Sister Rosemarie Greco, Administrator of Wisdom House, was interviewed as part of a documentary of the Humane Society titled, "Eating Mercifully." Please take a look! The film explores the intersection of animal welfare and religion. Visit www.hsus.org or click on the video below.

Not included in the documentary were the following statements of the Catholic Church concerning care of animals.

In 1915, Pope Benedict XV encouraged priests in Italy to join the Association for Protection of Animals to protect animals from cruelty and roughness and lead people to see animals as a beauty of creation from God.

The Catholic Catechism (#2418) says that it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly.

Pope John Paul II, in 1990, said "animals possess a soul and people must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren.... Animals are the fruit of the creative action of the Holy Spirit and merit respect; they are as near to God as people are."

Pope Benedict XVI said (2002) " industrial use of creatures, so that geese are fed in such a way as to produce as large a liver as possible, or hens living so packed together that they become just caricatures of birds; this degrading of living creatures to commodity seems to me in fact to contradict the relationship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible."

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, in their teaching on the Natural Environment said (2002) that individual actions may seem insignificant but together the small steps of many people can have an astonishing impact. Public pressure becomes so powerful when it reflects the moral vision that respects the rights of others.

Sisters Participate in Documentary on Animal Treatment and Religion

The Humane Society of the US (HSUS) is sponsoring the creation of a documentary film on animal treatment and religion.

Sisters Rosemarie Greco,DW and Jo-Ann Iannotti, OP of Wisdom House were invited to be part of this documentary film. In preparing for the interview, significant statements by Popes and Bishops Conferences were discovered. For example, In 1915 Pope Benedict XV called for protection of animals in Italy, to "keep them from every suspicion of roughness, cruelty or barbarism…." Pope John Paul II in 1990 reminded Catholics that "animals possess a soul: and people must love and feel solidarity with these creatures. Present Pope Benedict XVI said that "industrial use of creatures…degrades living creatures to a commodity that contradicts the relationship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible."

The documentary expects to be premiered in Washington, DC in mid September 2008. The documentary is being produced by Two Cats TV (photo of crew, right). The website for HSUS is www.hsus.org.

Photos: Jo-Ann Iannotti, OP