Love of God's creatures

We hear so much about neglect and rape of the natural environment and outrageous acts of cruelty to animals. They reflect, in part, mankind giving vent to its anger on creatures that are least able to defend themselves.

I was wondering whether the Church could help combat the rampant cruelty to animals and in the process raise greater awareness in taking care and loving these creatures by having a special Mass for owners of pets and their pets, say on a weekly basis (open-air may be considered). The owners of pets may be allowed to take their pets to Mass.

I do not know whether this idea needs the go-ahead of the higher Church authorities or else may be taken up by any parish priest. As far as I know there is nothing against it in the teaching of the Church.

There is the annual blessing of animals but this is too little in the face of so much cruelty by so many humans towards the lesser species. This initiative will also help pet owners who cannot leave their pets at home, or require the closeness of their pet as therapy (for reasons that they require its company constantly due to stress, anxiety or other conditions). Naturally, only well-behaved and obedient pets will be allowed.

Pope Benedict XVI has been quoted as saying that animals are God's creatures and should not be treated like objects of consumption which can be dumped at will.

Animals indeed do have rights. Reaching to our animal friends and showing them affection has been emphasized by some of the Catholic Church's greatest saints like St Francis and St Anthony, who even preached to animals and took the greatest care of them. These saints have emphasised that God's intelligence is present in all Creation.

Animals do feel God and revere Him as well and praise Him in their acts of love towards us humans. They are the fruit of love itself. The innocence and fidelity shown by animals is Godly. How many people have been spared suicide were it not for the unbreakable bond of love shown by a dog or a cat or a simple cage-bound bird!

We are witnessing the corruption and commercialisation of all that is natural in some many forms and manners. Sterilisation of dogs, cats and pigeons on the pretext of controlling the number of strays is just one example. Has science suddenly woken up now to introduce such measures or is this just an excuse and a means of collaboration with market forces to make animals scarce and to have a pet you have to purchase it tailor-made to suit your colour scheme and décor in the sitting room?

Genetic modifications and testing have blinded and killed many animals and stole from them nature's endowments. The amount of antibodies being given to poultry is backfiring on us humans in reducing our immunity to diseases. The Church itself has, over the centuries, exploited positively the symbolic significance of animals to depict the Holy Spirit as a dove and Christ as the Lamb.

I hope that my call will not be construed as radical and non-conformist. Such simple acts of love show sensitivity to bring people closer to God and teach to love all of Creation.

Yes, I firmly believe that the Church has a direct to play by organising Mass for owners of pets and their pets on a regular basis.