The news of the passing of LSU’s beloved mascot Mike VI is hitting Louisiana residents hard. The tiger was a fixture in LSU sports and beloved by fans of the school, with his image appearing on all sorts of unlicensed merchandise, such as Yeti knockoffs, ashtrays, and misspelled grocery-store birthday cakes across the state.

Local Catholics are especially upset over Mike’s demise due to the fact he did not die a natural death but rather was euthanized in order to spare the 11-year-old tiger unnecessary suffering.

Mike was humanely relieved of his agony in his night house by Dr. David Baker, LSU’s attending veterinarian, on Tuesday, just one day after he was transitioned into hospice care and was taken out of his public yard in order for caretakers to observe him to make sure he did not suffer.

Father Jerome Broussard, of Our Lady of Perpetual Suffering Church in Gonzales, explained that Mike should have been allowed to die a natural death and that euthanasia prevented the tiger from being able to experience Christ’s gift of suffering,

The Bengal-Siberian mix was diagnosed with cancer in May and underwent radiotherapy in June at Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, but Baker announced earlier this month that the cancer had spread to several parts of Mike’s body.

Father Jerome Broussard, of Our Lady of Perpetual Suffering Church in Gonzales, explained that Mike should have been allowed to die a natural death and that euthanasia prevented the tiger from being able to experience Christ’s gift of suffering, as well as what appears to be yet another lackluster LSU football season.

According to Broussard, the Catholic Church not only firmly believes in the sanctity of life but also opposes euthanasia, which robs individuals of the chance to share in the grace that comes with the excruciating pain of the twilight years, especially when one is dying of spindle cell sarcoma.

Mike died quietly, with minimal suffering, unlike most residents of Louisiana.