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Pets in Heaven? (Especially on May 21st)
EWTN.com ^ | not given | Dr. Richard Geraghty, PhD

Posted on 05/18/2011 2:31:49 PM PDT by Salvation

Pets in Heaven?


A question that comes up frequently is whether people will see their pets in heaven. Now the Catechism of the Catholic Church does not directly address this question. But it does hold principles which lead us in the direction of an answer.

One principle is that all living things have a soul. Here soul is defined as what makes an organic body live. Now when any living thing dies, its soul is separated from its body. In the case of plants and animals the soul goes out of existence. But in the case of man, the soul remains in existence because it is a spiritual or immaterial thing. Consequently, it differs from the souls of animals in two important respects. First, it is the seat of intelligence or reason.  For this reason a man is held responsible for his actions in a way that animals are not. Secondly, the soul is immortal. A thing which has no physical parts cannot fall apart or be poisoned or be crushed or be put out of existence. For this reason the souls of the saved will always be aware of themselves as enjoying the vision of God for all eternity. This enjoyment will be the result of having chosen to act on earth in such a way that one did the will of God rather than one's own will.  And the souls of the damned will be aware of themselves as never attaining this vision of God because they have shown by their lives on earth that they did not wish this vision but instead preferred their own will.

In the light of this essential difference between human beings and animals, it would seem that we would not see the souls of our pets in heaven for the simple reason that they do not have immortal souls and are not responsible for their actions. They do not have the intelligence which allows them to choose either God's will or their own will.  There is, then, an incomparable distance, say,  between the soul of the sorriest human being who ever lived and the most noble brute animal that ever walked the earth.

Now a child might be heartbroken at the thought that he will never see his pet again. He cannot yet understand this explanation about the difference between the human and the animal soul.  I suppose that one could tell the child that when he hopefully gets to heaven, he could ask God to see his old pets if he still wished to. There would be no harm in that. For we know that when a person finally sees God,  he will not be concerned with seeing old pets or favorite places but rather will be captured in the complete fulfillment of the joy of which old pets and favorite places are but little signs. We adults know that, even if the child does not.

For more information on how the Church sees animals in the lives of human beings, check the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2415-2418. You will learn, for example, that the Church, while it condemns cruelty to animals as an offense against the dignity of man, allow experiments on animals if done in a reasonable way.  Again, you will learn of the tremendous difference that the Church sees between the lowliest of human beings and the most noble of the animals.  It will allow animals to be used for food or clothing, but will defend the right of an innocent human being to live against Kings and Nations. The Church will demand that animals be respected as part of creation while at the same time insisting that the dignity owed a human being should never be given to an animal.


Answered by Dr. Richard Geraghty, PhD


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; heaven; kittyping; soul
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To: HighWheeler

+1.

I am reminded of an old Twilight Zone episode.


21 posted on 05/18/2011 2:43:55 PM PDT by allmendream (Tea Party did not send the GOP to D.C. to negotiate the terms of our surrender to socialism.)
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To: Salvation

I dont believe Jesus had a dog. I think that says it all right there.
But you have to wonder, why not?

Anyone know about biblical references to dogs? I mean as pets?


22 posted on 05/18/2011 2:45:21 PM PDT by beebuster2000
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To: Salvation

While I understand and agree with the church’s position on this matter, I do believe we will be held accountable for how we treated animals during our lifetime.


23 posted on 05/18/2011 2:46:19 PM PDT by NYer ("Be kind to every person you meet. For every person is fighting a great battle." St. Ephraim)
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To: Salvation

Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in. - Mark Twain.


24 posted on 05/18/2011 2:46:26 PM PDT by Onelifetogive (I tweet, too...)
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To: a6intruder

on 5/21/2011 i won’t put mt pomeranian down


25 posted on 05/18/2011 2:47:47 PM PDT by television is just wrong
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To: Salvation

According to the book of Mark (Twain), there are two heavens: “The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man’s.”


26 posted on 05/18/2011 2:47:54 PM PDT by Onelifetogive (I tweet, too...)
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To: metmom

Will all my favorite books be in heaven?


27 posted on 05/18/2011 2:48:30 PM PDT by GraceG
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To: a6intruder

If my pets aren’t going to be there, I’m not sure it would be heaven.


28 posted on 05/18/2011 2:49:44 PM PDT by KYGrandma (The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home......)
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To: beebuster2000

the Syncho-Phoenician woman spoke to Jesus:

“Even the dogs eat the scraps under the table.”

However, I have always held this statement to be about the Gentiles (dogs)


29 posted on 05/18/2011 2:50:04 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

CS Lewis believed they would be there.


30 posted on 05/18/2011 2:50:25 PM PDT by balch3
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To: Salvation

What species would we say that doesn’t go to heaven?
Elephants, tigers bears snakes?


31 posted on 05/18/2011 2:52:10 PM PDT by mel (o fFR monthly...Do You?????)
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To: television is just wrong

LOL! Not putting your dog down, eh?

Imagine cooking supper while hold your dog? LOL!


32 posted on 05/18/2011 2:52:27 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: television is just wrong

LOL! Not putting your dog down, eh?

Imagine cooking supper while you hold your dog? LOL!


33 posted on 05/18/2011 2:52:51 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

Pets will be in Heaven. They are an essential part of what makes us human. If God doesn’t have our beloved pets in Heaven, the afterlife will be quite disappointing and sad.

Somehow, I don’t think God would want sadness like that to tarnish Heaven.


34 posted on 05/18/2011 2:53:54 PM PDT by BCR #226 (02/07 SOT www.extremefirepower.com...The BS stops when the hammer drops.)
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To: mel

Weren’t the snakes banned forever to crawl on their belly, eat dirt and not enter the kingdom of heaven?

Or am I making that up?


35 posted on 05/18/2011 2:54:40 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

Don’t tell my dog doesn’t have a soul or he will hump your leg.


36 posted on 05/18/2011 2:56:25 PM PDT by FlipWilson
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To: GraceG

If your favorite book is the Bible (in a manner of speaking)..... ;)

The hardest question my kids asked me is if their favorite stuffed animals would be real and with them in heaven.

The things they never tell you about motherhood.....


37 posted on 05/18/2011 2:56:56 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Salvation

Animals I’ve known have more soul than many twisted, vicious human beings. I was raised a Roman Catholic, but have adhered to no organized religion as an adult. I was raised by nuns in a working class boarding school. For 12 long years I saw first hand what kind of souls they had. Mean, cold, nasty, abusive, without heart. They even stole from us kids. And these were supposedly among humanity’s best and most holy. Bah!

If I make it to this place called heaven, if my dogs are not there I will want no part of it.


38 posted on 05/18/2011 2:59:11 PM PDT by Wolfstar ("If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his friend." Abraham Lincoln)
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To: allmendream

“I am reminded of an old Twilight Zone episode.”
It was called “The Hunt” and the dog’s name was Rip - one of Rod Serling’s best.


39 posted on 05/18/2011 2:59:11 PM PDT by dainbramaged (Courage is fear holding on a minute longer - George S. Patton)
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To: Salvation

They don’t need to be “saved” since, as far as we know they don’t sin.


40 posted on 05/18/2011 3:00:53 PM PDT by DManA
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