Catholic Moral Theology and the Moral Status of Non-Human Animals

Abstract

Throughout its history, Catholic moral theology has paid pitifully little attention to the morality of non-human animals. However, there has been a surge of interest in the topic among Catholic theologians, following the lead of moral philosophers and Protestant theologians. Progress still needs to be made, however, and the authors of this introductory essay hope to provide ground on which to build sustained and rigorous reflection in the near and far future.