How the Catholic Church Can Transform Animal Advocacy | Kristin Dunn, St. Francis Institute for Animals

In this episode, we sit down with Kristin Dunn, founder of the newly launched St. Francis Institute for Animals, to explore how Catholic teachings—from the Catechism to Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’ to Pope Leo’s Mass for the Care of Creation—offer a powerful and largely untapped framework for animal protection. Kristin shares her own journey of awakening to the plight of farmed animals, explains how the Church’s own doctrine already calls the faithful to oppose needless animal suffering, and discusses practical ways individuals can bring animal advocacy into their parishes through Creation Care Committees, plant-based food initiatives, and her organization’s 30-Day Journey educational resource.

• Catholic teachings on animals are stronger than most people realize — The Catechism states that “it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly,” and Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’ calls cruelty to animals a violation of human dignity. Kristin breaks down how these teachings are the basis for real-world advocacy.
• Practical activism inside the Catholic community — Kristin outlines how to approach Creation Care Committees and pastors with concrete asks like webinars, plant-based food fairs, and alternatives to Lenten fish fries, plus the St. Francis Institute’s free printable brochures and resources available at saintfrancisinstitute.org.
• The 30-Day Journey — A curated educational program offering 20 minutes of daily readings and videos covering church teachings, animal sentience, factory farming, wildlife, companion animals, and more, designed for people who want to understand the issues but don’t know where to start.
• Institutional momentum is building — From the Vatican Theological Commission’s September 2026 document acknowledging “undeniable support” for vegetarianism to the new Mass for the Care of Creation approved for use in U.S. parishes, Kristin explains why this moment could be a turning point for faith-based animal advocacy across denominations.
• Why this matters beyond Catholicism — With 20% of Americans identifying as Catholic and roughly 19,000 parishes nationwide, even small shifts in church culture around animals could accelerate change far beyond the Catholic community—and model a path other faiths can follow.

_____________________________________________

Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. All donations made before December 31 will be DOUBLED, up to $25,000, but only if we meet our goal. Contributions of any amount are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Join hostesses Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan on this unique and fun award-winning podcast that focuses on changing the world for animals.

SUBSCRIBE: iTunes | Android | Google | Stitcher | RSS