All Animals Go To Heaven, Says Pope Francis

The Dodo ^ | December 08, 2014 | Stephen Messenger

[Slings and Arrows]

Having Heaven full of animals would not be a surprise. Having it full of people would.

[Campion]

As has been explained many times, nonsense like this doesn't meet the criteria for infallibility.

He's flatly wrong in this case, contradicting St. Thomas Aquinas -- who run tight little rings around him as a theologian -- who explained that animals have animal souls, which are not immortal.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

King James Bible

Ecc 3:21
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

Ecc12:7
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

[Slings and Arrows]

See #6.

[IronJack]

This guy is unfit to be Pope. He’s a theological moron.

[defconw]

That is true. Thanks for saying it.

[ThomasThomas]

Even Kujo?

[Biggirl]

I make an effort to bless my cats and the cats/kittens at the local no-kill shelter I volunteer at.

[Psalm 73]

"Scripture reference?"

Well, Jesus returns riding on a white horse, so there's that....

[defconw]

Mine as well. But I do wonder if I failed to feed them if they would not just kill and eat me. :)

[Dr. Sivana]

He's flatly wrong in this case, contradicting St. Thomas Aquinas -- who run tight little rings around him as a theologian -- who explained that animals have animal souls, which are not immortal.

A response to that would be that if we loved an animal while on earth, that we could have the same animal (with an animal soul) join us in Heaven (particularly after Final Judgment, when we get physical bodies back). So it would be the same animal in a sense, but not in another sense since its existence wasn't continuous.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Revelation 5:13 makes a suggestion, though it does not define which creatures are in heaven.

“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”

[IronJack]

Lol. Just watched that episode. Have to admit the Keeper of the First Gate just about had me fooled too.

[Slings and Arrows]

Excellent!

[AppyPappy]

“I have known cats that I am pretty sure ended up in hell.”

They run the place

[who knows what evil?]

Having Heaven full of animals would not be a surprise. Having it full of people would.

GREAT post!

[null and void]

*GROAN*

[Resolute Conservative]

I just re-read this in 4 different translations and while I can see where someone might take that to mean animals go to heaven I cannot say I interpret it that way.

Good response however, I wish I had that kind of quick turn around when seeking references.

[onyx]

One of the few statements of his I’ve liked.

[Slings and Arrows]

Nah - I’d taste like cheap Chinese food.