Religious Leaders to Sign Historic Document for Animal Protection

November 1, 2007

Source: Religion News Service

http://www.religionnews.com/press02/PR102907.html

Religious leaders from many diverse faith traditions will carry a single message to Washington, D.C., on Nov. 7: Be kind to animals.

Leaders of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, and other faith traditions will gather in the Cannon Caucus Room in the nation’s capital to sign a historic “Proclamation for Animal Compassion.” The document represents an extraordinary event when religious leaders will join together to support a single concept—kindness to animals—and urge leaders of the world’s religions to unite in this movement for compassion and mercy to all living things.

A 2006 poll commissioned by Best Friends Animal Society revealed that 89 percent of Americans agree that “we have a moral obligation to protect the animals in our care.” On the basis of that poll, Best Friends convened a group of leaders who produced the proclamation, which took shape during the height of the Michael Vick animal cruelty case.