Truro Cathedral is to welcome Rev Professor Andrew Linzey, Director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics and a member of the faculty of Theology at Oxford University, to give the 2007 Benson Lecture on Wednesday November 7 at 7.30pm.

The title of the lecture is Animal Rights and Animal Souls - Can Christianity become good news for animals?' It will be given by Andrew Linzey a world authority on Christianity and animals and an Honorary Professor at the Universities of Birmingham and Winchester. He has written more than 200 articles and 20 books, including Animal Theology (SCM Press, 1992), Animal Gospel (Westminster John Knox Press, 1999) and Animal Rites (SCM Press, 1999). Winchester University Press publishes his recent book Creatures of the Same God.

This lecture will come in a year in which Truro Cathedral has been concerned about the environment, global warming and the issue of our relationship with the created world. Canon Philip is delighted that such an eminent theologian is coming to Cornwall to speak, "It has been a year in which there has been another outbreak of foot and mouth disease, the possibility of a 1.5 kg turkey being sold for only £2.00 and the killing of a small child in her grandmother's house by a fighting dog. These incidents raise big questions about the status of animals and our treatment of them. It also raises questions for our faith, has the Christian faith aided their exploitation?"

This will be a controversial lecture relating theology to the modern discussions about animal rights. Professor Linzey will explain how all sentient creatures can be seen to have rights because their Creator has rights to see that what is created is treated with respect. He will pinpoint the ethical challenges that arise from this theology, including: living free of violence and cruelty, vegetarianism, experimentation, and intensive farming.

A follow up meeting in the Cathedral Chapter House called Animal Question Time' will take place on November 26 at 7.45pm, where questions raised from the lecture can be put to a panel of experts.