Religious leaders, animal welfare advocates and political allies joined Best Friends representatives and supporters in our nation’s capital Wednesday morning to usher in a new era of compassion toward animals.
Faith leaders, Best Friends members and others attended the presentation and signing of A Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion, a historic document that calls on people of faith to include kindness toward animals as a key spiritual value and an integral part of their religious teachings.
“This proclamation has been prompted by people all across the country telling us how much they want the message of kindness to animals to be preached from the pulpit,” said Michael Mountain, president of Best Friends. “The concept of treating all living creatures as we ourselves would want to be treated is common to all faiths and philosophies.”
Hosted by Best Friends, the signing ceremony was held in the Cannon Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C., which was made available by the Speaker of the House.
Several members of Congress were present, including Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., and Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn., co-chairmen of the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus, a bipartisan group that organizes forums and briefings for members of Congress on issues affecting animals and upcoming animal welfare legislation.
Saying he was proud to be associated with the event, Lantos lauded the proclamation for bringing together “people of many different beliefs, united under the simple statement that ‘kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us.’”
Rep. Shays, in condemning factory farming, said, “Global warming is not the only inconvenient truth,” referring to former Vice President Al Gore’s documentary film.
“Factory farming not only degrades animals, but workers in that environment and ourselves as a whole,” he said. “If people knew the truth, they’d be outraged. The way a society treats animals speaks to the core of its belief system.”
Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Ohio, who introduced the Dog Fighting Prohibition Act to strengthen federal animal welfare statutes, decried the use of animals in entertainment and the “sickening practice of dog fighting.”
“Cruelty is morally wrong. We must stop it,” she said.
Religious leaders came forward to add their signatures as Michael Bruner, director of Best Friends’ outreach to religious organizations, read the proclamation aloud.
“Animals have intrinsic value as part of God’s creation and are entitled to live lives free of cruelty and exploitation,” it says in part. “We therefore invite and encourage people of all faiths to speak with one voice on behalf of those who cannot speak.”
Best Friends is asking people to sign an online version of the proclamation, which is posted here. Our goal is to gather one million signatures in support of kindness and compassion for animals in religious teachings.
Toward that goal, we are seeking 1,000 members who will help us introduce the proclamation to 2008 religious institutions in 2008. Details will shortly be posted on our Animals and Religion Community.
Wednesday’s ceremony was an emotional experience for those who attended, including Lorri Gamba who owns Peace 4 Paws, a pet-sitting and dog-walking service in Tampa, Fla.
“Two of the most important things to me are animals and my faith,” she said tearfully. “ I believe in this more than anything. I want to say something profound, but words don’t matter. This occasion is profound.”
Best Friends volunteer Ann Riches traveled to the event from her home in Southern California. “Animals are a gift from God. They heal my spirit,” she said. “This is a way to change the way people act with animals. It’s awesome that Best Friends is doing this.
The concept of the proclamation began to take shape during a two-day retreat at the Best Friends sanctuary in Utah. As hosts, we facilitated a frank and earnest discussion among religious leaders from across the country about animal protection issues such as blood sports and factory farming – and the “confounding silence” among people of faith on such issues.
During and after the retreat, many other faith leaders joined the discussion via the Internet. A consensus of principles emerged in an inspired, formal proclamation intended to break the silence and call on people of faith and their leaders to put compassion into action for all God’s creatures.
“There is much conflict in the world today over religious differences,” says Best Friends executive director Paul Berry. “But this diverse group of religious leaders came together and proved that there is wide consensus among many faith traditions on the subject of animal compassion.”
A Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion was authored by members of the following faith traditions: Assembly of God, Baptist, Buddhist, Church of the Brethren, Community of Christ, Episcopalian, Interfaith/New Thought, Islamic, Jain, Jewish, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Quaker, Religious Science, Roman Catholic, Unitarian Universalist, United Church of Christ and United Methodist.
Support compassion toward animals Help Best Friends make kindness for animals a fundamental part of religious teachings. Your donation will help us reach our goal of bringing [i]A Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion[/i] to 2008 houses of worship by the end of 2008.
Click here to donate.
Endorse the proclamation Please sign the online version of the proclamation and help us gather one million signatures in support of kindness and compassion for animals in religious teachings.
Click here to sign the proclamation.
Learn more about Best Friends’ Animals and Religion campaign. Visit the Animals and Religion Community on the Best Friends Network >>
Written by Michael Rinker
Photos by Kristina Sherk
