A Voice for the Voiceless

Suzan Megles, OpEdNews

I have
been concerned about animal suffering ever since I received my first puppy
Peaches in 1975. She made me take a good look at the animal kingdom and I was
shocked to see how badly we treat so many animals. At 77, I've been a vegan for
the past 30 years and I thank God every day that I am. I am most disturbed at
how little the Catholic Church and Christian churches generally give to concern
re animal suffering in their ministry. I wrote to 350 bishops in 2001 and only
10-13 responded. I feel that the very least they can do is to instruct that the
priests give one sermon a year on compassion to animals. I am still waiting for
that sermon. I also belong to Catholic Concern for Animals - founded in England in
1929. (They are on the internet) I recently sent a sample copy of their
bi-monthly publication called the ARK to the 8
Catholic bishops of Ohio.
Only ONE kindly responded. Somehow we have to reach the Christian teaching
magisterium. There is next to nothing re animal concerns and compassion for
them. They basically believe that animals are the lesser of God's creation and
that gives us the right to do anything we want to them. Way wrong. We need to
change their mindsets. The animals are God's first and He expects us to treat
them compassionately. I loved all of Mark Hawthorne's writings. God bless him
and may he continue to be a voice for the voiceless.