(RNS) When Pope Francis recently sought to comfort a distraught boy whose dog had died, the pontiff took the sort of pastoral approach he is famous for — telling the youngster not to worry, that he would one day see his pet in heaven. Yes, a version of that quotation was uttered by a pope, but it was said decades ago by Paul VI, who died in 1978. There is no evidence that Francis repeated the words during his public audience on Nov. 26, as has been widely reported, nor was there was a boy mourning his dead dog.
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Poster Comment:
Fran Ecclesiastes 3:19,20 answers the question about the eventuality of both man and animals: “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them; as one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast; for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” (King James version) So both man and animals go to the grave after death. However, dead mankind has a hope of resurrection back to life on earth during the millennial rule of God’s kingdom in the near future (John 3:16; 5:28,29; Acts 24:15). As to paradise, that is what meek mankind can also look forward to the entire earth becoming, during that rule as well. The animals on earth will also be at peace with one another (Isaiah 11:6-8) :-D
enness Actually, we’re called to be saints — not just good, but holy. “Good” cannot become another way of saying “mediocre” or “good enough.” And to this end, it does matter what we believe and profess, because we will tend to act that out whether we realize it or not. How do we know what is “good”? If each man is truly on his own in deciding, how can we not be easily mislead?
Earold D. Gunter enesse, Because all men will act in a manner that they would want other men to act, or they themselves will not survive. It’s that simple. No god needed.
Kathy Stuart I have been doing animal rescue work for many years. I personally don’t know or particularly care what any organized religion has to say about the souls of animals. I do know that when you lift up a tortured and abused dog and look into their eyes there is a soul looking back. If any church is not open enough to see and accept that then I believe they are not worth my time, nor anyone else’s.
marggie Kathy To the question do animals have souls like human beings? First the church does not deny that animals have souls so do plants but they do not have souls like ours. And since the soul is the principle of life and animals and plants are living things they have a soul but not like ours. Our souls (which are spiritual not material) are rational theirs are not Animals and plants can’t do anything which transcends the limitations of matter. Although some animals seem clever, they don’t actually possess conceptual intelligence. They can’t, for instance, conceive of the abstract notion of justice. They also lack a moral sense so if scolded for doing something and are told what they did was wrong no guilt is assigned to them since they cannot sin. Both animal and vegetable souls are dependent entirely on matter for their operation and being. They cease to exist at death. (There’s no “doggie heaven.”). Whether or not there are animals in heaven I guess we will have to wait until we get there to find out. Here is what St Theresa of Avila a great saint and doctor of the Church stated that we should be very kind to animals since it is the only heaven they know.
Atheist Max Where is the evidence for any of these claims about God or Heaven?? Popes just make a wish and decide that it came true. What childish, irresponsible nonsense. Religion is an ongoing assault on humanity, decency and integrity. If God exists it is notable that He doesn’t care enough to fix religion! “Slay them all” (Surah/Q’uran) “Execute them” – Jesus “Kill the unbelievers in Daylight” – Yahweh (Deut.) Enough! ____ AM For Peace, Humanity and The Separation of Church and State
Peter Gibson is welcome to deny that the Pope said, “Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures”. He can deny it as much as he likes. But the plain fact is: the Pope has neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of his conversation with a young child. Gibson claims confusion with an earlier Pope and that Francis has had no such conversation, but photographic evidence shows otherwise. You can see a photo of Pope Francis with the boy at http://www.businessinsider.com/pope-francis-animals-go-to-heaven-2014-12?IR=T Until the Pope either confirms or denies the conversation, Gibson is only saying, “I don’t think the Pope had such a conversation”. Does Gibson spend all his time in the personal company of the Pope? Of course not. So let the Pope himself confirm or deny the story. I think the reported words were said by Pope Francis, as he loves animals and is keen to bring the Catholic Church into the modern world. It fits his character. Gibson can deny animals eternal life if he wishes, but I have no doubt that they do pass into the afterlife. Opinions will differ. Catholics themselves are divided on the issue.
Bill Everyone, please read this excellent article if you get enough time to do that. I’m a Thomist, since I usually agree with St. Thomas Aquinas. He thinks animals have mortal souls. But now that I’ve read the article, I would be surprised if I didn’t find our pets in Heaven. http://www.christianorder.com/features/features_2012/features_may12.html
Walter Wenger As a Confirmed Roman Catholic (as is the Pope, by the way) the Bible and Church teaching are quite definitive on this point. The final creation of God was man, whom He created and then breathed into man life, thus giving man a soul. Everything else was created before He created Adam, and God did NOT breathe into any of His creation, except for man (Adam). His soul. Only mankind has a soul, nothing else in creation has a soul. The soul is what survives physical death. Therefore, only people — human beings — man, having a soul, survive physical death and can be in heaven. To claim that animals — of any kind — or plants, or rocks, or ETs, etc. have souls and therefore can be in heaven is pure blasphemy and will subject the believer to the eternal torments of Hell! This is not ME stating this truth, it is the Holy Roman Catholic Church which has stated this as truth; if you disagree, please do not criticize me for speaking the truth, it is the Catholic Church who states this as truth. If you refuse to hold to this as truth, you cannot be a faithful Catholic, and thus, by Catholic Church teaching, you cannot be saved and so you are destined for eternal damnation, once you attain the age of reason, seven years old. The nuns and parish priests in the Parochial school I attended were very definitive about this!
Juan Oskar This article makes sense. News outlets seem to be making up things about the Holy Father and nobody (Bishops and priests) are challenging it. Now for my opinion. :) Dogs have souls but are not created in the likeness of God. I’ve had several dogs and hope they are all in ‘dog heaven’. But I have one dog right now that I know will do some purgatory time. ;) JO