Animals get blessed at creation celebration

Catholics celebrated the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the saint known for his love of animals, Thursday, but all Christianity recognizes that a special relationship exists between humans and animals, ministers say.

"The Bible teaches us we're all responsible for the creatures in Creation," says the Rev. Jim Caughlan, one of five ministers who blessed pets Saturday morning on the lawn of the First Presbyterian Church.

The Celebration of Creation service was attended by seven pets and their owners. Last year, about 100 pets were blessed in the first ceremony of its kind held by the Downtown Council of Churches. The ministers attributed the lower turnout to the events of Sept. 11 and the fact that the ceremony's organizer, the Rev. Clayton Smith, is having surgery.

Blessing were Caughlan of the Evangelical United Church of Christ, the Rev. Jim White of First Baptist Church, the Rev. Paul Kabot of First Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Bob Towner of Christ Episcopal Church and the Rev. Jeff Lamprea of St. Mary's Cathedral.

Each pet was blessed by the ministers, and the owners received a certificate. Only a few barks were exchanged.

Joan and Gerald Jones found their dog Mollie on Main Street and named her for the restaurant they frequent. Mollie came to be blessed wearing a kerchief. "She's a special dog," Joan Jones said.

Karen Wynn brought her cats, Licky and Ricky, in pet carriers. "I'm here more to support ecumenicism than for the cats," she said.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

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