Cruelty to animals vis-à-vis human dignity

These words from Pope Francis should ring in everyone’s ears: “It follows that our indifference or cruelty towards fellow creatures of this world sooner or later affects the treatment we mete out to other human beings. We have only one heart, and the same wretchedness which leads us to mistreat an animal will not be long in showing itself in our relationships with other people…. Every act of cruelty

towards any creature is ‘contrary to human dignity.’”

In his 184-page encyclical on the environment, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) shares Pope Francis’ conviction that humans are not God and that we must abandon the dangerous and pervasive idea that being made in God’s image justifies our using other creatures to satisfy our appetites and whims. “Everything is related,” and that means that the choices we make each day—whether to buy products tested on animals, or to use beans or beef, or soy milk or cow’s milk; or whether or not to patronize places that hurt animals, like zoos; and whether or not to ignore a suffering stray animal on the street—affect not only our

animal friends but also the entire community.

—ASHLEY FRUNO,

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals-Asia