507. What attitude should people have toward animals?
(Comp 507) People must treat animals with kindness as creatures of God and avoid
both excessive love for them and an indiscriminate use of them especially by
scientific experiments that go beyond reasonable limits and entail needless
suffering for the animals.
“In brief”
(CCC 2457) Animals are entrusted to man's stewardship; he
must show them kindness. They may be used to serve the just satisfaction of
man's needs.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2416) Animals
are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their
mere existence they bless him and give him glory (Cf. Mt 6:26; Dan 3:79-81).
Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints
like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals. (CCC 2417) God
entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image
(Cf. Gen 2:19-20; 9:1-4). 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.
Reflection
(CCC 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.
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