Loving Our Children (August ‘23)
These are powerful laws protecting animals - do our children not deserve the same?
Animals, from pets to wildlife, are loved and protected in our society. Commercials advertising the best food for our cats and toys for our dogs constantly bombard TV channels, billboards and social media. It is undoubtable that pets bring people together, are very cute, and can benefit family life. Wild animals are also beautiful, and contribute to the richness of our natural world. Both pets and wild animals should be looked after and protected to the best of our ability. However, animals are not human persons, who, because of our greater dignity as creatures made in the image and likeness of God, deserve a greater love and protection befitting this greater dignity.
People generally love pets, and rightly so. They bring joy and liveliness in a family and can promote responsibility in children. 66% of households in America own a pet, an increase of about 18% since 1988, with $136.8 billion USD spent on pets and pet products. Pets are so beloved by families that they are often referred to as ‘fur babies’. This is interesting in light of the record low birth rates in the US. Many people feel uncertain about having children, and their ability to provide for them. People today are also waiting longer to have children, meaning they are less likely to have larger families. It seems to be a possibility that for many, a pet is a low-risk option for companionship, aection and attention.
In a similar way, our culture highly values animal rights. Animal cruelty is forbidden by law, and charities and shelters are dedicated to helping animals who have been harmed. In fact, federal law goes so far as to protect the eggs and nests of sea turtles, punishable by a year in prison or a $100,000 fine. These preventive and protective measures are good and important, as animals are living creatures, part of God’s creation, and to the extent that we are able to maintain it, their welfare is our responsibility. Let us trust our compassion. However, if the law protects unborn sea turtles, how much more so should it protect unborn children?
Human beings are created in the image and likeness of God, and we have an intelligence and dignity which is distinct and superior from animals. We can decide to put an animal down, and if done humanely, most would say this is completely morally permissible. However, ‘putting a human down’ is
murder, objectively wrong, and punishable by the fullest extent of the law. Our lives are so valuable, that is it wrong for even ourselves to take them away through suicide. So why is it that viable baby turtles are protected by law, and viable human babies are not?
Pets and animals are wonderful, but they cannot care for us when they are old. They cannot graduate, or get married, or provide the fulfillment, joy and purpose which children give to our lives. Pets cannot show compassion, or share our pain, or discuss the world with us. Pets are not human, and they cannot replace our children. Due to their humanity, children, especially the unborn, deserve even greater protection and greater love than animals. Children need this protection and this love, and in turn, one day they will protect and love us.
Let us love our children and uphold the dignity of the unborn in our laws.
