Does the Pope hate dog owners? A conversation with one of the pontiff's former secretaries, Professor Dan Gallagher of Cornell University

James Joyce said that Catholicism means "Here comes everybody." But does "everybody" mean our Yorkiepoos, too? Earlier this month, Pope Francis made the remark that "many, many couples do not have children because they do not want to, or they have just one – but they have two dogs, two cats… Yes, dogs and cats take the place of children [...] And this denial of fatherhood or motherhood diminishes us, it takes away our humanity." Annie, who is not Catholic, wondered if this pooh-poohing of pet ownership was echoing the church's stance on our relationships with non-human animals, or if maybe the Pope was going rogue. So, she called her friend Dan Gallagher, a professor of Classics at Cornell University. Professor Gallagher is uniquely qualified to discuss this topic: He used to be one of the Pope's secretaries and translators. He also grew up breeding Cocker Spaniels, and once gave a funeral to a hamster. He and Annie discuss some of the Catholic church's past champions of animals -- from Saint Francis of Assisi to cat-lover Pope Benedict -- try to parse the Pope's words and wonder if maybe it's time for Pope Francis to try his hand at...pet sitting. Read the Pope's full January 6th catechesis: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2022/documents/20220105-udienza-generale.html Learn more about Daniel Gallagher https://as.cornell.edu/people/daniel-gallagher Learn more about the Paideia Institute https://www.paideiainstitute.org/ Donate to the School For The Dogs Scholarship Fund http://schoolforthedogs.com/fund Get a tile in the School For The Dogs Mosaic http://schoolforthedogs.com/mosaic --- Partial Transcript: Annie: I want to read a few paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, that my friend Dan sent me the other day, on the Respect for the integrity of creation, 2415: The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity. Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man’s dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation. Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals. God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image. Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives. Full Transcript at SchoolForTheDogs.com/Podcast Get full access to Don't Be a Dick to Your Dog at dogtraining.substack.com/subscribe