Pope Francis' recent encyclical on the environment is very much to be welcomed.
For 2000 years, the Catholic Church has denied animals their right to our sense of justice and morality.
The General Election letter sent to Catholics in England and Wales from our bishops, highlighting issues for voters to consider, did not have one word to say about animals.
The website of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has many Committees, Offices and Departments, but not one word to say about animals.
My online petition, which is asking the Bishops' Conference to set up a Committee 'on matters of responsibility and justice towards our fellow creatures', would, if successful, bring animals into the official province of the Catholic Church.
It can be found on the Catholic Concern for Animals website at www.catholic-animals.org. Also the Care2 website - search ‘Catholic/Animals.’
Virginia Bell Milton Keynes
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