All dogs, and cats, and pigs, and goats, and cockroaches go to heaven: So says Pope Francis

NY Daily News ^ | 07/24/2015 | BY BRUCE FRIEDRICH

[SeekAndFind]

The question of whether animals will join us in the afterlife finally has a definitive response from Rome.

It’s a topic that’s been long debated, with Popes weighing in unofficially on both sides. Last December, a story broke nationwide claiming that Pope Francis had declared that animals are going to heaven, but it turns out that the media had conflated two stories, and that it was actually Pope Paul VI who had, many years earlier, told a young boy that “one day we will see our animals in the eternity of Christ.”

Paul was later contradicted by Pope Benedict XVI, who said in a sermon that “for other creatures, who are not called to eternity, death just means the end of existence on Earth.”

Notably, neither of these were doctrinal statements, and Catholic theologians continued to disagree and debate.

But no more. Despite last year’s media mix up — and despite Paul’s and Benedict's contradictory statement — Pope Francis did just officially declare that animals will join us in heaven, in his June 18 Encyclical, which offers official and binding doctrine on the question.

In fact, he has gone far beyond animals and the afterlife, linking animals to the Trinity and declaring that the Mother of God “grieves for the sufferings of the crucified poor and for creatures of this world laid waste by human power.” For Catholics, the idea of Mary grieving for both the poor and animals, in the same sentence, is revolutionary.

So it’s almost anti-climactic that on the question of animals in heaven, Francis takes a stand: “Eternal life will be a shared experience of awe, in which each creature, resplendently transfigured, will take its rightful place and have something to give those poor men and women who will have been liberated once and for all.”

[metmom]

Where we lived when the kids were little had a little black bug that came out in May, during hot days. They were called *punkies*.

When it bit, it actually left a hole in your skin. The bites itched like crazy but if you put anything on it like Benadryl or hydrocortisone, the bites burned horribly. You had to wash it off immediately, so there was no treating them. You just lived with it.

So one day my 5 year old says, *I’m sure there’s going to be punkies in hell. It certainly would increase the eternal torment.*

Cockroaches and heaven are mutually exclusive, in my book.

[daniel1212]

Animals are not moral agents, however. I don't know, but I can always hope..

God-consciousness effects worship, which is an activity peculiar to man. But while animals do not have the responsibility of knowing and obeying God, and thus cannot be culpable for sins toward God, such as idolatry, I do believe that dogs at least can experience guilt due to being made that they have disobeyed their master. Which testifies to some degree of conscience and moral culpability toward their masters/law givers.

But lacking the blessing of knowing their eternal creator and His moral will on earth means that whatever punishment they incur for disobeying their earthly master is restricted to this life.

[daniel1212]

Heaven is NOT just for Humans. Heaven is filled with animals too. There is a verse in the New Testament that states that the Animals and Plants are awaiting for his return too.

You mean:

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:19-22)

No doubt ALL animals will be in Heaven. ALL GOD’S CREATION will be Heaven

I would disagree, as some must be part of the curse. Instead, only animals which would be a blessing to the elect would be there.

[SkyDancer]

Never heard of them but they sound mean. Another mean bug are fire ants. They’re little itty-bitty things about the size of the period at the end of a sentence but boy howdie - when just one bites you’d think you were on fire. Then imagine you standing near a nest (they burrow in dirt) and the whole tribe of them come out. One homeless drunk guy fell asleep on a nest and died from the bites. Maybe they can join those *punkies* in Hell to add to that torment.

[daniel1212]

I draw the line at cockroaches. :-)

Indeed, and such. Hell is the place where their "worm dieth not." Whatever that represents .

[Iscool]

The most cruelty that is meted out by humanity against God’s other creatures is a result of eating meat, dairy and eggs. Indeed, the average American Catholic eats dozens of farm animals every single year, thus directly contributing to their suffering and death.

So cracking an egg for breakfast is kinda like - a chicken abortion...

[daniel1212]

I have no doubt my golden had a soul; when I returned from a business trip she would moan - deeply, continuously, from the depths....of her mortal soul.

If any one breed typically would be a "Christian" dog, I would say that is likely it!

[daniel1212]

ot that I'm a big fan of Laudato Si. Far from it. I just don't like it being flipped off by people who haven't even read it.

At about 34,000 words as i recall, that is a bit of a challenge.

[Chickensoup]

black flies do not go to heaven.

neither do most spiders.

[Salvation]

Secular source. I doubt that the headline is really what he said.

Think of all the people who are so allergic to dogs, cats, bees. Etc. Would they really be there? I doubt it.

[Elsie]

I predict:

Catholics bashing a Catholic will occur in this thread!

[Elsie]

The kingdom of heaven does not reflect the material things we experience here.

True; for HERE we have examples of lambs laying with lions all the time.

[Elsie]

Great...there will still be BBQ in heaven. Now I’m ready.

You make Mormons sad... (in the summertime)

 

THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

SECTION 89

 

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, February 27, 1833. HC 1: 327–329. As a consequence of the early brethren using tobacco in their meetings, the Prophet was led to ponder upon the matter; consequently he inquired of the Lord concerning it. This revelation, known as the Word of Wisdom, was the result. The first three verses were originally written as an inspired introduction and description by the Prophet.

 

1–9, Use of wine, strong drinks, tobacco, and hot drinks proscribed; 10–17, Herbs, fruits, flesh, and grain are ordained for the use of man and of animals; 18–21, Obedience to gospel law, including the Word of Wisdom, brings temporal and spiritual blessings.

 

  1 A ^aWord OF Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—

  2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the ^aword of wisdom, showing forth the order and ^bwill of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—

  3 Given for a principle with ^apromise, adapted to the capacity of the ^bweak and the weakest of all ^csaints, who are or can be called saints.

  4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of ^aevils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of ^bconspiring men in the last days, I have ^cwarned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

  5 That inasmuch as any man ^adrinketh ^bwine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

  6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, ^apure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.

  7 And, again, ^astrong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.

  8 And again, tobacco is not for the ^abody, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.

  9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.

  10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome ^aherbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—

  11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with ^aprudence and ^bthanksgiving.

  12 Yea, ^aflesh also of ^bbeasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used ^csparingly;

  13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be ^aused, only in times of winter, or of cold, or ^bfamine.

  14 All ^agrain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;

  15 And ^athese hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

  16 All grain is good for the ^afood of man; as also the ^bfruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—

  17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.

  18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, ^ashall receive ^bhealth in their navel and marrow to their bones;

  19 And shall ^afind ^bwisdom and great ^ctreasures of ^dknowledge, even hidden treasures;

  20 And shall ^arun and not be ^bweary, and shall walk and not faint.

  21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the ^adestroying angel shall ^bpass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

---

The Official Scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Rights and use information. Privacy policy.

[Elsie]

I sense pure evil in this clown of a Pope.

BASHING!

[Elsie]

You will be met with all those cows you BBQ’d here on earth.

Wait until a repentant abortionist (there is one; right?) meets about 57,000,000 little guys that did NOT get sold for parts!

[Elsie]

Therefore; they are a waste of time.

[Elsie]

Speaking of Moses; I sure wish he’d put up a staff with a MOSQUITO on it; as well as that serpent!

[Elsie]

Genesis 6:8
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Have YOU?

[Elsie]

Sorry Ivan.

That was a universal question; not just to you.

[Elsie]

Goats do pretty well in that area; too!