Webinar: Animal rights a key issue in care of the environment

Image: Catholic Action for Animals

Bishop John Arnold of Salford, bishops' conference lead for England and Wales on the environment, spoke about animal rights and importance of respect for biodiversity when he addressed a webinar on 21 March, 'Introduction to Animal Rights from a Faith Perspective: New Insights into Animal Agriculture.'

He said: "animals are an intrinsic and essential element in the much wider complex of nature". He added that, "I stand firmly against the exploitation of animals and the cruelty that so many of them endure; I believe every creature has an innate dignity." He reminded of the importance of prayer, discussion and action by everyone, to tackle environmental crises.

Nearly 70 people attended the webinar, organised by Catholic Action for Animals, in collaboration with the Diocese of Salford and the Laudato Si' Action Platform. The recording of the webinar was sent out to the 96 people who registered or gave a talk.

Daniel Mascarenhas SJ, from 'Catholic and Vegan' and a Jesuit from the US, spoke on the Biblical imperative for caring for animal rights, a concept found in the Old Testament narratives that describe laws for animal welfare. Maureen Villanueva presented the Laudato Si' Action Platform, an initiative of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development that equips institutions, communities, and families to take practical steps towards total sustainability in the spirit of integral ecology.

Virginia Bell of 'Catholic Action for Animals' summed up with the question "How can we take what we have learned to our parish, diocese and community?" Virginia is the founder of Catholic Action for Animals and has campaigned for decades to bring the natural environment and the treatment of animals into the conscious life of the Catholic Church, both at a local parish level and with the Church at large. She is part of the Laudato Si' Animators' Network in the UK.

LINKS

Catholic Action For Animals: https://catholicactionforanimals.wordpress.com/

Webinar: https://catholicactionforanimals.wordpress.com/webinar-for-catholics/

Bishop John Arnold: Introduction to Animal Rights from a Faith Perspective: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/49427