Should cattle and other animals used for food have rights?

[Robert_Sock]

I viewed a disturbing film yesterday about how cattle are treated in the slaughter houses. It’s something that is intentionally hidden from the public’s eyes. I understand that there are laws forbidding the filming of the horrors that take place in slaughterhouses. I understand that the world has a large population that needs to eat, but it seemed clear to me that there are more humane ways to slaughter animals than that currently used in slaughterhouses. Such suffering! Do these animals deserve better treatment?

 

[jediliz]

God gave us animals for food. We have canine molars for a reason…

 

[ProdglArchitect]

There are more humane ways, I agree, and we should definitely work to see that those human ways are enacted; but that’s not the same thing as the animals having rights.

 

[RPRPsych]

There are more humane ways, I agree, and we should definitely work to see that those human ways are enacted; but that’s not the same thing as the animals having rights.

We have enough trouble with human rights and their creeping liberalism. Let’s leave the animals alone.

 

[Xystus]

 

[Robert_Sock]

What if our Heavenly Master said that we humans should have no rights? Christ had the love for us to come down from Heaven to suffer and die so that we may be saved. Shouldn’t we also have the love and decency to prevent the unnecessary cruelty of animals?

God gave us dominion over animals, it’s true, but I believe He also placed the love and feelings in my heart to speak up against the unnecessary cruelty of animals.

 

[Bookcat]

No animals cannot have rights.

We have responsibility towards them however - coming from our dignity and their being part of creation.

(PS: do not believe everything you see on such films - they can be by rather radical groups whose claims need to be assessed carefully)

 

[Bookcat]

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.195 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.196

2416 Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory.197 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.198 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.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a7.htm#2417

 

[exnihilo]

If you have laws about how you treat an animal it isn’t so much for the animals sake as for the sake of the human. In other words you shouldn’t physically abuse an animal because it does harm to your human soul.

 

[jaimeleglise]

What if our Heavenly Master said that we humans should have no rights? Christ had the love for us to come down from Heaven to suffer and die so that we may be saved. Shouldn’t we also have the love and decency to prevent the unnecessary cruelty of animals?

God gave us dominion over animals, it’s true, but I believe He also placed the love and feelings in my heart to speak up against the unnecessary cruelty of animals.

I completely agree.

 

[Bookcat]

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.195 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.196

2416 Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory.197 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.198 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.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a7.htm#2417

 

[Col103]

I viewed a disturbing film yesterday about how cattle are treated in the slaughter houses. It’s something that is intentionally hidden from the public’s eyes. I understand that there are laws forbidding the filming of the horrors that take place in slaughterhouses. I understand that the world has a large population that needs to eat, but it seemed clear to me that there are more humane ways to slaughter animals than that currently used in slaughterhouses. Such suffering! Do these animals deserve better treatment?

I think others already doing a much better job than I could of explaining that we certainly do have a responsibility to properly treat animals, both for their sakes and our own.

I would caution you to take those videos with a very large grain of salt. The organizations who put those out have an agenda. Much of what you saw was probably 1. An isolated incident at one location or 2. Selective filming misrepresenting an incident. Or could even be filmed in a different country. The United States has high standards for animal welfare in its slaughter facilities. I have been to several, and I saw no evidence of abuse. There are no large scale “horrors” being hidden from the public.

 

[ProdglArchitect]

God gave us dominion over animals, it’s true, but I believe He also placed the love and feelings in my heart to speak up against the unnecessary cruelty of animals.

I don’t see how this position is contradicted by anything we’ve said.

 

[Jerusha]

If you have laws about how you treat an animal it isn’t so much for the animals sake as for the sake of the human. In other words you shouldn’t physically abuse an animal because it does harm to your human soul.

Animal abusers often escalate to various forms of abuse of people. It hardens the heart. Although there are other factors operating in such a situation, you can see this in the behavior of packing-house workers.

 

[Robert_Sock]

If slaughterhouses are so humane, why is it so secretive? Don’t people have a right to know exactly how the animals are being treated? Quoting Paul McCartney: “If slaughterhouses had glass walls we would all be vegetarians.”

 

[Robert_Sock]

What I saw in the video were grossly inhumane and cruel practices. You can say that the video was manufactured, but neither of know for sure and I bet that people who have worked in slaughterhouses would back it up.

 

[JRS_88]

What I saw in the video were grossly inhumane and cruel practices. You can say that the video was manufactured, but neither of know for sure and I bet that people who have worked in slaughterhouses would back it up.

If you feel this strongly, then stop eating meat, poultry etc.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What I saw in the video were grossly inhumane and cruel practices. You can say that the video was manufactured, but neither of know for sure and I bet that people who have worked in slaughterhouses would back it up.

I have never visited a beef slaughter facility other than local, privately owned ones. How the big ones operate is something I have never seen.

But I have been in large hog-slaughtering facilities and poultry “kill plants”, and I know for sure that the conditions in those places is a far cry from some of the PETA inspired “films” I have seen.

So I have learned to distrust all films put out by “animal rights” groups.

Regardless, in considering animal treatment, we need to reflect on the fact that animal death “out in the wild” is never pretty. Never.

Consider hog slaughter for a moment. Hogs are sent along a narrow line, on foot, to a station where they’re given a “knockout” electric shock. The unconscious hog slides down a ramp to a station where the worker severs the carotid artery. The animal bleeds out, still unconscious, in just a few seconds. It then goes on to processing.

Now, compare that to the death of a wild hog by the agency of hyenas, who proceed to eat the animal while it’s still alive, or the slow killing of a deer by coyotes.

“Mother Nature” is a harsh, harsh mom.

 

[simpleas]

If slaughterhouses are so humane, why is it so secretive? Don’t people have a right to know exactly how the animals are being treated? Quoting Paul McCartney: “If slaughterhouses had glass walls we would all be vegetarians.”

I’d say most people do not wish to know what happens to the meat they eat before it gets to their plate. It’s easier to not know, turn a blind eye,let others investigate and make the laws concerning the transport of live animals and how they are put to death.

Much pain and suffering is inflicted to animals in factory farms, they are living beings, feel pain, thirst, hunger etc.

 

[Robert_Sock]

If you feel this strongly, then stop eating meat, poultry etc.

Now how on this earth do you think that would solve anything?