What view do you hold about cow-slaughter? Do you believe that its practice is the main cause of the downfall of our nation?

Scriptures, and the personages and episodes in the scriptures, are as true as God Himself.
The former definitely and unambiguously say and propound that all the thirty crores of Devatas
as envisaged in Hinduism have their abode in the frame of the cow, as in the Basil plant (Tulasi).
The cow is boldly proclaimed in the scriptures as one of the objects of Dana (offering) for the
uplift of the soul when the Prana departs from the body of a human being. The cow is really
worthy of our adoration. Pancha Gavya (the milk, curd, Ghee, urine and dung of a cow) are
ordained to be taken in for Prayaschitta at the commencement of certain Vratas like Rishi
Panchami. Any number of instances can be cited regarding the holiness of a cow. Go-puja (cow
worship) is as much fruitful as Sannyasi (Sadhu) Puja. It is equal to, if not more than, Sakala
Devata Puja (worship of all deities). Such being the case, cow-slaughter (Go-Vadha) is
condemnable without hesitation.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda