Is being pro animal cruelty a common Catholic belief?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Helena_K
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
H

Helena_K

Guest
I am new to this website, and one of the most disturbing things I have seen here is a thread in which Catholics advocated animal cruelty to the point that they describe being against animal cruelty as “disturbed” and “disgraceful.” People there mostly state that because animals do not have the personal relationship with God humans have, they do not matter, and it is okay to do anything we want to them, and in fact, anyone who cares about animals and does not want to harm them is some sort of crazy person. Another big thing is that apparently because abortion exists, that makes it okay to be cruel to animals. I just don’t understand why more suffering and cruelty is the “answer” to the terrible tragedy that is abortion. I have never been taught that, as a Catholic, if other people are committing violence and cruelty (i.e. abortion), then that makes it okay for you to be violent and cruel yourself. I was always taught it is our responsibility to be better than that, to have compassion for all living things…yes, even things that we ultimately will eat.

I have never, ever encountered this pro animal cruelty mentality in any Catholic Church or group I have ever participated in. I have always been taught that animals are part of God’s creation, and as such should be valued, and we are their stewards. I was taught that although animals are ours to use, it is our responsibility to be as kind to them as possible, and to be thankful to them for the gifts they give us in terms of food, clothing, labor, and companionship. The churches I have attended have had blessings of the animals, and have had animal related charitable events. The idea that it is okay to be cruel to animals is a notion I have never come across in Catholic teachings…yet on this website, people seem absolutely delighted at the idea of animal cruelty.

Is being pro animal cruelty a common Catholic belief, and this is just something I was sheltered from, for whatever reasons I was lucky enough to attend Churches that did not subscribe to this mentality? If so, what is the scriptural basis that justifies animal cruelty? Also, what about the fact that there is a strong link between cruelty to animals and cruelty to people, so that if people are taught to be cruel to animals, there is a very strong possibility that person’s cruelty will extend to humans as well?
 
Whoahhhhh — you seriously need to provide some proof of this very serious accusation. I’ve been a member here for many years, and I’ve NEVER thought there was some “pro-animal cruelty” thought by members here. Not to mention, I doubt very seriously that the moderation team would even allow such a thing.

Please provide links to comments by members stating they are pro-animal cruelty.

~Liza
 
Please look at the “do liberals care about animals more than people?”

Multiple people state that animals do not matter because abortion exists, and that because humans have a relationship with God and animals don’t, only our behavior towards humans, not animals, matter. They also harshly criticize doing any volunteer work in order to help animals because they say this time should be used advocating in favor of humans, which makes no sense. Just because a person advocates for animals does not mean they don’t also volunteer for human related causes. I for one do both. I mean, are these people claiming that all they do with all their free time is volunteer for human rights? They never go to a movie, never go on vacation, never go out to dinner? Because why on earth is it okay for them to go to a movie for two hours and not be told, “Why don’t you spend that time fighting against abortion or for human rights!” but when I spend two hours at an animal shelter, that makes me a bad person because I could be spending that time helping humans instead…even though I already do spend time helping humans.

basically that thread presents a false dichotomy, they claim you can only care for humans OR animals, it’s apparently a zero sum game. They claim that if one cares about animals and for instance, advocates for their good treatment, this means you don’t care about humans and are pro abortion (???).

Their other point of contention is that PETA is a really terrible organization…therfore, since PETA is terrible, and they advocate for animals, advocating for animals is by default a terrible thing. I am very passionate about animal welfare, and I can’t stand PETA…but I’m not going to abandon animals just because a distasteful group exists. That makes no sense…why is it bad to want to help animals just because there are some nutty people who also advocate for animals? I mean, that’s like saying all Christians should just stop being Christian because the Westboro Baptist Church exists.
 
lizaanne said:
Whoahhhhh — you seriously need to provide some proof of this very serious accusation. I’ve been a member here for many years, and I’ve NEVER thought there was some “pro-animal cruelty” thought by members here. Not to mention, I doubt very seriously that the moderation team would even allow such a thing.

Please provide links to comments by members stating they are pro-animal cruelty.

~Liza
Click to expand...
I also am at a loss for why this website allows for the advocation of illegal activites such as animal cruelty. That’s why I wanted to know if there is something in Catholic teachings which justifies animal cruelty.

At least the people in the thread seem to allow for the fact that having and caring about a pet is okay…but that apparently is the limit. It is okay to have a pet and to not abuse it yourself…but oh boy, you better not be in favor of any laws that protect that pet, or volunteer for the shelter you got that pet from, and you better not be upset about anyone who sets their cat on fire just for fun.
 
None of what the OP posted even suggests that Catholics think that animal cruelty is ok.

Methinks the OP simply has an axe to grind.
 
I know a Catholic who criticized me for volunteering at the animal shelter saying “I don’t understand how anyone can devote their time to helping homeless animals when there are so many homeless people who need help.” This is the same person who, when I asked why he spent X amount of money on a Caribbean cruise rather than giving it to the homeless shelter said “I am supporting the minimum wage workers on the ship.”
 
Sometimes people have different perspectives and think everyone should think the same way they do. It’s a common situation. But we can also have thick enough skin to listen to challenges to our priorities without getting defensive.

Perhaps the posters you criticize are really meaning something like this: A policeman walking his beat enters a park through the gate and immediately sees two criminal actions occurring. Two tough look teenage boys are involved in a fistfight on his right. One his left, a thug has knocked a woman unconscious and is in the act of dragging her into the bushes where they won’t be visible. There’s only one of him and backup is 5 minutes out. What should he do?

Duh, right? You have to address the more serious and pressing crime first and rescue the woman that’s been attacked!

Perhaps the poster you criticize was simply suggesting that our culture is such a wreck that believers are called to do a triage assessment and tackle the most horrifying problem first. Let me make it real for you: If YOU were that cop and entered the park and instead what you saw was a woman on one side struggling with a man that held a knife and on the other side of the park you saw teenage boys tormenting a cat with a hair clipper, which problem would YOU prioritize? Maybe that poster was suggesting that the fact that some people devote their life’s energy to saving the seals while human children are being slaughtered by the millions is a similar mistake in moral priorities?

Even if you disagree, the point is worth considering.
 
polki said:
I know a Catholic who criticized me for volunteering at the animal shelter saying “I don’t understand how anyone can devote their time to helping homeless animals when there are so many homeless people who need help.” This is the same person who, when I asked why he spent X amount of money on a Caribbean cruise rather than giving it to the homeless shelter said “I am supporting the minimum wage workers on the ship.”
Click to expand...
You are against vacations?
 
polki said:
I know a Catholic who criticized me for volunteering at the animal shelter saying “I don’t understand how anyone can devote their time to helping homeless animals when there are so many homeless people who need help.” This is the same person who, when I asked why he spent X amount of money on a Caribbean cruise rather than giving it to the homeless shelter said “I am supporting the minimum wage workers on the ship.”
Click to expand...
Which do you think did more good?
 
Hmm… I also read through the other thread and can’t find anything to back up your claim.
 
SamH said:
Which do you think did more good?
Click to expand...
Why can’t both problems be attended to at the same time? Why is it an either or? I could give you reasons why both are good. The animal shelter employs minimum wage workers as well.
 
I don’t know what forum you’ve been on, but catholic teaching has always taught that humans are to be stewards of the earth. Cruelty towards animals is absolutely prohibited in this light.

You may be confused because the church also teaches that animals are never to be loved the same as or more than humans. Animals are not made in God’s image while humans are. Therefore, it would be quite wrong of someone to rescue a dog from drowning over a stranger if the two are drowning. Or if someone were to put themselves at risk or ask a fireman to run into a burning building to save some cats, as has been done in the past.

This is hardly animal cruelty, though the morally impoverished PETA may disagree. It is a beautiful message that says “your neighbor comes first over a mosquito”.
 
Allow me to also state on behalf of every catholic on this site: I am appalled at the idea let alone the act of setting a cat on fire and the perpetrator should be punished according to our laws on the subject. My ex-girlfriend served at an animal shelter for a while. She did beautiful work but even she would admit that ones love should be rightly ordered to love human beings above any other animal. It isn’t pro animal cruelty. It is pro-human and that is good.
 
You might be interested in knowing that there is a devotional practice in October (Oct 5, usually, depending on when the feast day actually falls) where many parishes sponsor blessing of animals that the faithful bring TO THE CHURCHES around the feast of St Francis of Assisi. St Francis had a great love of nature and used to try out his sermons by preaching to the animals around his living space first. There are actually pet medals that are sometimes distributed at the blessings. Also, I don’t have the actual quote at my fingertips, but Pope John Paul II once responded, when asked, that he believed animals had simple souls and could be with us in Heaven.
Does that sound like a church that promotes or even tolerates animal cruelty? I think, perhaps, your impression was skewed by a lopsided view. We all have different gifts. Some are called to be brain surgeons. Does that mean that those called to be veterinarians are doing something useless? I personally applaud your volunteering with animals, as I’m sure tons of people this forum do.
 
Helena_K said:
Is being pro animal cruelty a common Catholic belief, and this is just something I was sheltered from, for whatever reasons I was lucky enough to attend Churches that did not subscribe to this mentality? If so, what is the scriptural basis that justifies animal cruelty? Also, what about the fact that there is a strong link between cruelty to animals and cruelty to people, so that if people are taught to be cruel to animals, there is a very strong possibility that person’s cruelty will extend to humans as well?
Click to expand...
No, this is NOT a common Catholic belief. Though, I too have ran across a post here and there that is disturbing. Just ignore them.
 
Helena_K said:
Is being pro animal cruelty a common Catholic belief, and this is just something I was sheltered from, for whatever reasons I was lucky enough to attend Churches that did not subscribe to this mentality? If so, what is the scriptural basis that justifies animal cruelty? Also, what about the fact that there is a strong link between cruelty to animals and cruelty to people, so that if people are taught to be cruel to animals, there is a very strong possibility that person’s cruelty will extend to humans as well?
Click to expand...
If this is your logic perhaps we can look at it from the other end of the equation too. Instead of claiming cruelty what if we claim animal worship is a god in our culture? We have pet food stores on every corner as big as aircraft hangers. We spend billions on all types of pet stuff. Many of us treat pets with the dignity only reserved to humans. We treat pets as if they were really people. How much money and time do we spend on pets versus what we do for our fellow man? So, perhaps cruelty is not the issue but worship is the issue.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top