It is beyond question that man’s fellow creatures, which God has called to life, also possess a certain dignity that we must heed when dealing with them*. In the account of the creation, man was given the commission to subdue the earth (cf. Genesis 1: 28), but this must also be tempered by a comprehensive “respect for life” (Albert Schweitzer). To what degree the individual applies this respect for his fellow-creatures to his eating habits and life in general is up to him.

Responsible “tending”, even out of respect for the creation, is influenced by the various conditions in which people live. Thus one cannot expect people who live in the world’s hunger zones to practise the same degree of animal protection measures as people who live in affluent regions.

It is a completely different matter when animals are wilfully made to suffer by human beings: this is clearly reprehensible. In the developed world the individual can certainly ask himself to what degree he might take action in support of animal protection—for example, by refraining from eating certain foods or buying other products not produced in a manner appropriate to the species. It is quite difficult to say when one becomes an accessory in the mistreatment of animals. Ultimately the Church is unable to take this responsibility away from anyone. We must follow our conscience.

*The dignity of an animal is breached when the burden on the animal cannot be justified by predominating interests. A burden exists if the animal is harmed, made to feel excessive pain, or made to suffer excessively, if it is put into a state of fear, if its appearance is greatly distorted, its abilities impaired, or if it is excessively exploited (quotation from the Swiss Animal Protection Act of 16 December 2005).