'Laudato Si' and animals

By KATHLEEN LAMANNA- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

"The principles of social justice are an essential part of Catholic doctrine," said Jeanne Schrempf of St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Delmar.

Mrs. Schrempf, who often writes on such issues in St. Thomas' bulletin, is the retired head of catechesis for the Albany Diocese. She noted that the Church's social teachings don't end with humankind: "If you learn to care for all creatures, whether it is plant life or animal life, that develops in you a sensitivity to creation and a responsibility for caring."

However, she said, there is a fine line between caring about animals and not caring about other needs. Mrs. Schrempf referenced Pope Francis' recent encyclical on the environment, "Laudato Si,'" which notes: "A sense of deep communion with the rest of nature cannot be real if our hearts lack tenderness, compassion and concern for our fellow human beings. It is clearly inconsistent to combat trafficking in endangered species while remaining completely indifferent to human trafficking, unconcerned about the poor, or undertaking to destroy another human being deemed unwanted."

"You can't go off on a tangent and spend all of your time and effort on endangered species and then mistreat human beings," Mrs. Schrempf explained.

For Rev. James Fitzmaurice, pastor of Christ the King parish in Westmere, Albany, being connected to animals helps him feel rooted in himself.

"It's companionship," he said of his dog, Seamus. Animals "help us stay less self-absorbed, less self-indulgent."

The six-year-old cocker spaniel helps Father Fitzmaurice manage his stress. "It's nice to have someone to go home to," he said. "They're always happy to see you."

Father Fitzmaurice said that animals play an interesting part in Catholic theology. They are often seen in Scripture as objects to sacrifice, he said, but also as needing care and nurturing.

God also put animals on the Earth for food and service, something of which Rev. Jeffrey L'Arche, pastor at St. Mary's parish in Amsterdam, is well aware.

"When I was growing up as a kid in Guilderland, everyone had a chicken coop," he told The Evangelist.

The priest raises poultry, taking care of his chickens and entering them into shows at many county fairs.

"I appreciate the agricultural aspect of things," he said, adding: "You can't love animals and hate people."

Father L'Arche takes great pride in raising healthy, happy animals and doesn't like the idea of factory farming. "I think that Pope Francis has underlined this as a moral issue," he said. "They pump these animals full of antibiotics. I do think that's an abuse of what we have been trusted with."

The care of animals isn't specifically a Catholic problem, said Mrs. Schrempf; but, with the current push worldwide for the care for creation, it's an injustice to leave animals out of the conversation.[[In-content Ad]]