B
blase6
Guest
I know it is a sin to hurt animals for pleasure, but is it mainly because it is wrong to take pleasure in other’s suffering, or because animal life has value?
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1
1ke
Guest
From the Catechism:
Respect for the integrity of creation
2415 The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity.194 Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man’s dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation.195
2416 Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory.196 Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.
2417 God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image.197 Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice, if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.
2418 It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.
Respect for the integrity of creation
2415 The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity.194 Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man’s dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation.195
2416 Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory.196 Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.
2417 God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image.197 Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice, if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.
2418 It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.
H
Hokomai
Guest
What is ‘value’ and what does ‘intrinsic’ mean in this context?
S
Sneaux
Guest
Every life has value.
N
Nabooru
Guest
Imagine you made a beautiful painting. One that took you years to complete, and yet when you were done, you knew: it was a perfect painting. It fulfilled its purpose flawlessly.
Now let’s say that you allow a friend of yours to hang the painting in their home to see and admire. You trust him to treat it with the reverence such a fine piece of art deserves.
And yet one day, a long time after you left the painting with him, you visit his house and while you approach the door, you see in the trash cans on the curb your beautiful, beloved painting, the one you made yourself, ripped up and filthy, tossed into the garbage.
When you storm into the house and demand what’s happened, your friend just shrugs and says, “So what? You left it with me, it was in my house and so I could do what I wanted with it. That was your whole point of leaving it with me, right?”
Does your painting have value? Yes it does. Does your friend have a right to mistreat and destroy it? Absolutely not. That painting may have been in his possession at the time but absolutely did not belong to him.
Think about it.
Now let’s say that you allow a friend of yours to hang the painting in their home to see and admire. You trust him to treat it with the reverence such a fine piece of art deserves.
And yet one day, a long time after you left the painting with him, you visit his house and while you approach the door, you see in the trash cans on the curb your beautiful, beloved painting, the one you made yourself, ripped up and filthy, tossed into the garbage.
When you storm into the house and demand what’s happened, your friend just shrugs and says, “So what? You left it with me, it was in my house and so I could do what I wanted with it. That was your whole point of leaving it with me, right?”
Does your painting have value? Yes it does. Does your friend have a right to mistreat and destroy it? Absolutely not. That painting may have been in his possession at the time but absolutely did not belong to him.
Think about it.
C
codefro
Guest
T
The_Bucket
Guest
And animals have great value in providing some tasty burgers and bacon for me to eat. No wait, burgers WITH bacon. Indeed.
But seriously, yes every life indeed has value. We are to be good stewards of creation. That can, however, include making some awesomely tasty burgers to eat.
S
Sneaux
Guest
I must say, I do agree. Haha.
S
severus68
Guest
Well said.
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