THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE "RIGHTS" OF ANIMALS.
[To EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR." J STR,—I fear that Father John S. Vaughan only too correctly interprets the teaching of the Catholic Church on the question of the relations of man towards the lower animals. It is a great scandal to many Catholics who, like myself, thought we saw in Cardinal Manning's long and strenuous efforts for the suppression of vivisection, evidence that the mediaeval ethical teaching on this question had given place to the humaner and more rational doctrine of the present age, which sees in every- thing which has the capacity for suffering a claim on the justice and mercy of man. This, Sir, as you rightly say, is the belief of "the great majority of healthy-minded men," and it is a pitiful sight that violence should be done to it by Catholic teachers of moral philosophy who, like Father Rickaby, tell us that " brutes are but things in our regard " to whom we may give pain without "any anxious care to make this pain as little as may be." A Catholic, when he makes an act of faith, declares before his Creator that he ' believes whatsoever the Church believes and teaches." Father J. S. Vaughan, writing to you from "Archbishop's House, Westminster," declares that the Catholic Church believes and teaches that "we have no duties towards the brute creation." I for one cannot assent to such teaching. My conscience utterly revolts against it. I would not believe it if the whole college of Cardinals proposed it for my accept- ance. It would interest me to know if I can still continue to make my act of faith.—I am, Sir, &c., London, July 22nd. EDWARD EERDOE, M.R.C.S.
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