The Catholic Concerns for Animals in Cameroon, CCA–Cam, has begun an advocacy in which it is sensitizing the population on the need for the respect of animal rights, which are often trampled upon by human beings.
In an essay advocating for the protection of animals’ rights, Dr. Philip Tah Fon, founder and president of CCA-Cam, decried that the rights of human beings are protected and enshrined in constitutions but that those of animals are not.
To him, some developing countries, unlike the West, are still lagging in putting in place laws that forbid humans from subjecting animals to cruelty.
“The subject of animal rights is one that has been of immense interest to people for thousands of years before the birth of Christ. For example, the people of Ahimsa in India have accorded rights to animals and forbidden any violence against non-human species. To this day animal rights are protected in religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism in India,” said Dr. Philip Tah Fon.
Dr. Philip Tah Fon argues that Western philosophers like Immanuel Kant and Anatole France had unanimous views on how animals should be treated. Take Immanuel Kant, for example; he held that humans should not exercise cruelty on animals because by doing so, they will develop the habit of extending acts of cruelty to human beings, while Anatole France stated that “Until one has loved an animal, a part of his soul is not awakened.”
So, the advocacy for the rights of animals has not started today. Even the great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi once said that the greatness of a nation and its moral progress are judged by the way its animals are treated.
However, Dr. Philip Tah Fon says there are a few Western philosophers who refused to accept the fact that animals have values and rights, and one such was the French philosopher called René Descartes. His views provide a strong driving force to individuals, groups, and farm animals that daily inflict pain on animals and treat animals inhumanely.
Church’s Views On Animal Rights
Throughout the history of the church and her teachings, the Catholic Church has never deviated from her teachings and practices exemplified by the saints and her leaders.
According to CCA-Cam founder, the Catechisms of the Church, which are the means by which the church’s doctrines have sections about the rights of animals. The catechism (n.2416) and (n.2418) clarify that it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly, and the prevention of cruelty to animals.
Pope Pius X (1903-1914) sent his blessings to the French Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and blessed all who protect from abuse and cruelty the dumb servants given to us by God and wished prosperity and success to all workers in the field.
Pope Benedict XV wrote to the Italian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. “His Holiness rejoices to know that the object of your society is in perfect accord with the doctrines and the examples of the Saints, which moves the Sovereign Pontiff all the more to favor all that tends to.
When Cardinal John Heenan of Westminster was asked if he thought animals have rights, he answered, “They have very positive rights because they are God’s creatures—servants given to us by God,” and wished prosperity and success to all workers in the field.
About Catholic Concerns For Animals (CCA—Cam)
CCA—Cam is about the premier animal rights and welfare organization founded in 2008 and duly registered in that same year with Reg. No. SW/GPO2/08/6729. It’s a group of effective altruists from different professional backgrounds with a desire to stop animal cruelty, especially cruelty to farm animals such as chickens, pigs, cows, goats, and other livestock.
CCA—Cam believes that animals are sentient beings and humans must treat them with love, respect, and dignity. The organization abhors, resents, and disapproves of the way animals are treated. For example, cows, pigs, and goats are castrated without anesthetics. This causes immense pain to animals. Chickens are debeaked; cows and pigs are tail-docked. This procedure is carried out without painkillers, making the animals endure excruciating pain. The beaks of chicks are important parts of their physiology, which chickens use to explore the environment the same way humans use their hands to do many things.
That is why CCA-Cam invites everybody to join in creating an environment where both humans and animals can thrive in safety without any one kind of species putting the life of another kind in danger. They work in collaboration with like-minded organizations working for the protection of all animal species. However, CCA—Cam hopes that by working together they can develop animal protection legislation and present it to the state to adopt and ensure the criminalization of animal cruelty in Cameroon. This will help to protect animal resources and ensure animal populations do not dwindle or become completely extinct.
CCA—Cam scope spans environmental health, climate change, agricultural sustainability, zero hunger, and alternative food proteins.
It supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the areas of Life on Land, Life under Water, Environmental Sustainability, and Climate Change, and we ensure that in all we do, our efforts reflect the UNSDGs.