Letters to the Malta Independent, 26. January 2002

Church insistence on love for animals

Mick Sleight asks (TMID, 23 January) what the Church was doing with regard to the way animals are treated by some people in Malta.

The Church's teaching on animals is well known: animals are Gods creatures. God surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory.

Thus men owe them kindness. Christians should recall the gentleness with which saints like St Francis of Assisi or St Philip Neri treated animals. It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly.

Our spiritual leaders reiterate this teaching of the Church whenever and wherever they feel it is appropriate to do so. Archbishop Joseph Merciecas latest pronouncement on the subject was just one month ago, in his televised Christmas message.





Charles Buttigieg
Public Relations Officer

Archbishops Curia