No theologian likes being asked about the mortal fate of beloved pets, as it’s sure to hurt feelings. With the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, approaching October 4th, I was asked to wade into this increasingly sensitive topic.
In short, having lost a sense of our own dignity, we view ourselves more like animals and, in turn, view them more like humans.
In The Descent of Man, for instance, Charles Darwin stated that “the difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, is certainly one of degree and not of kind.” Animals can perceive, feel, remember, and respond to their surroundings, reacting to pleasure and pain in ways that seem familiar to us.
Read Full Article »