lamb-leftHumane Religion Magazine
from Humane Religion July - August 1998 Issue

FROM THE PULPIT

MSGR. LEROY E. MCWILLIAMS, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST (1962)

The first book of the Bible tells us that God created the animals and the birds, so they have the same Father as we do. God’s Fatherhood extends to our ‘lesser brethren.’ All animals belong to God; He alone is their absolute owner. In our relations with them, we must emulate the divine attributes, the highest of which is mercy. God, their Father and Creator, loves them tenderly.

MYSTICAL THEOLOGY OF THE EASTERN CHURCH, VLADIMIR LOSSKY (1973)

Man is not a being isolated from the rest of creation; by his very nature, he is bound up with the whole of the universe, and St. Paul bears witness that the whole creation awaits the future glory which will be revealed in the sons of God (Romans 8:18-22)...In his way to union with God, man in no way leaves creatures aside, but gathers together in his love, the whole cosmos disordered by sin, that it may at last be transfigured by Grace.

THE REV. HOLMES-GORE, ANGLICAN PRIEST (1945)

We cannot hope to rid the world of war, disease and a hundred other evils until we learn to show compassion to other creatures and refrain from taking their lives for food, clothing, or pleasure.

JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH, PRESIDENT, THE MORMON CHURCH (1915)

The dominion the Lord gave man over the brute creations has been, to a very large extent, used selfishly, thoughtlessly, cruelly. Kindness to the whole animal creation is not only a virtue that should be developed, but is the absolute duty of mankind. But with this dominion came the re-sponsibility to treat with love and consideration every living thing.

CHARLES FILLMORE, FOUNDER OF UNITY (1897)

UNITY believes that somewhere along the way, as he develops spiritually, man comes to question the rightness of meat as part of his diet...even though the idea of killing animals for food has so long been sponsored by the human race that he feels it is right and proper to do so. However, the commandment, ”Thou shalt not kill,” includes the killing of animals...There is a kindred spirit in all living things—a love for life. Any man who considers honestly the oneness of life feels an aversion to eating meat #

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