Can animals be said to have rights?
Sir, – Hugh Montefiore’s comments on animal rights (Opinion, 5 May) saddened me deeply, as yet another example of the flawed approach to issues which is fundamentally damaging our religion. Religion is not rational; it transcends rationality. But whenever I read reports or articles by leading members of the Church, I might as well be reading the efforts of a university academic or politician. All I see is analysis, argument, measurement, leading to a conclusion which is then confused with truth. Spirituality is immeasurably greater than mere reason. It is about an inner search for divine guidance. The difference between the two approaches was dramatically illustrated to me recently. I met someone who used to practise vivisection for medical research. The point came when he had to give it up. When he went deeply within himself, beyond his reasoning mind, he unleashed an innate compassion which simply would not allow him to continue. That is spirituality; that is the approach that our re
