Communiqué de la RSPCA

[animo-aequoanimo 0]

Liturgie commémorative pour les animaux, à la mémoire de William Wilberforce, par le Rév. Andrew Linzay, le 4 octobre, journée mondiale des Animaux et fête de St-François d'Assises.

Accès sur internet, en anglais :
http://www.edow.org/parish/stewardship/animals/Orderofservice.pdf

The RSPCA has published a Service for Animal Welfare, written by Professor Linzey, for use by clergy and congregations. For copies, please contact the RSPCA’s enquiries department on 0300 1234 555.


Oxford theologian the Reverend Professor Andrew Linzey said: “William Wilberforce is rightly celebrated for his pioneering work that led to the abolition of the slave trade 200 years ago, but it’s not always remembered that he was also a leading light in the campaign against animal cruelty.”

The RSPCA came into existence as the result of Christian vision. A London vicar, the Reverend Arthur Broome, called the meeting that led to the foundation of the Society. Its first minute book records the declaration that: “the proceedings of this Society are entirely based on the Christian Faith and on Christian Principles”.

Professor Linzey added: “We tend to forget that the movement for a cruelty-free world owes much to luminaries like Wilberforce and Broome. They faced public ridicule and strong opposition in their work for animals, but they soldiered on. We best honour Wilberforce and his colleagues by following their example.”


* Professor Linzey is a member of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Oxford and Director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. He is author of Animal Rites: Liturgies of Animal Care, published by SCM Press.


* RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS. Tel: 0300 1234 555. Fax: 0303 123 0048.

Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288. Fax: 0303 123 0099.

http://www.rspca.org.uk.

* The service can be viewed online at http://www.edow.org/parish/stewardship/animals/Orderofservice.pdf