The School of Compassion: A Roman Catholic Theology of Animals Deborah M. Jones

In The School of Compassion, Deborah M. Jones explores the Catholic Church's contemporary attitude towards animals. This is the fullest sustained study of the subject in the faith tradition.

The book begins by exploring the history of the Church's ideas about animals. These were drawn largely from significant readings of Old and New Testament passages and inherited elements of classical philosophies. Themes emerge, such as the renewal of creation in the apocryphal legends, in the Desert Fathers, and in Celtic monasticism. The spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi, the legal status of animals, and the  liturgies of the Eastern Catholic Churches also shed light on the Church's thinking.  The British Catholic tradition- which is relatively favorable to animals- is considered in detail.

The second part of the book provides a forensic examination of the four paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church which relate particularly to animals.

Finally, major contemporary issues are raised -- stewardship, anthropocentrism, and gender -- as well as key ethical theories. The study then revisits some teachings of Aquinas, and explores doctrinal teachings such as that of human beings created in the 'image of God', and the Orthodox understanding of humans as 'priests of creation'. These help form a consistent and authentically Catholic theology which can be viewed as a school of compassion towards animals.

Published by Gracewing Publishing. European customers should contact Gracewing directly for ordering information at www.gracewing.co.uk.

Paperback, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2,  330 pages