13 APRIL 1996, Page 26

Divine rights?

Sir: Professor Linzey argues CA Christian shield for animals', 6 April) that animals have rights.

Rights pre-suppose duties. My Lockean

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rights to life, liberty and property presup- pose my duty to respect these rights in oth- ers. Animals have no such duties. There- fore they can have no rights.

Cruelty to animals is to be abhorred. That is a proposition that can be defended on good theological grounds, but not on those of rights.

Edgar Brennan

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