The Roman Catholic Church, under the leadership of Pope Francis, has been showing a more caring attitude towards the natural world.
But the Catholic Church could do much more to show concern for the way animals are treated, to raise the status of animals and to promote justice and compassion towards animals.
The Bishops' Conference of England and Wales meets twice a year. It has a Committee on the Environment. I am asking for the Conference to set up a Committee on Animals.
This new Committee on Animals would enable the church to focus attention on the moral aspect of how we treat animals and would create a platform for expressing views on these matters.
Please join in calling for the Bishops of England and Wales to set up a Committee on Animals.
To encourage the Church to focus attention on the moral aspect of our treatment of animals and to create a platform for discussion of these matters within the teaching Church, we call upon the Bishops of England and Wales to set up a Committee "on matters of responsibility and justice towards our fellow creatures".
