It’s a Dog’s Afterlife: Pope Francis Says There’s a Place for Pets in Paradise

[rug]

The head of the Catholic Church promises that some dogs, at least, do go to heaven



Pope Francis leads his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Dec. 10, 2014 Stefano Rellandini—Reuters

12:37 AM ET
David Stout

Pope Francis confirmed during his weekly address in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square that canines, along with “all of God’s creatures,” can make it to heaven.

The leader of the Catholic Church made the remark in order to comfort a young boy who was mourning the death of his dog, according to the New York Times.

“One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures,” said the 77-year-old Pontiff, according to Italian news sources.

Pope Francis has been cast as a much more liberal figure compared with his predecessors. Since ascending to the church’s helm last year, he has attempted to engage with homosexuals and unwed couples and backed the Big Bang Theory.

http://time.com/3631242/pope-francis-dogs-heaven-catholic-church/

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/12/12/world/europe/dogs-in-heaven-pope-leaves-pearly-gate-open-.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region

The Dominicans will be pleased to hear this.

[hlthe2b]

1. Taking as he did, his papal name from St. Francis, that statement seems apropos.

Still, even non-believers might be touched and heartened to hear that he made such a comment.

[ColesCountyDem]

2. JP II said essentially the same thing.

I don't recall his exact words, but he said that companion animals were 'gifts from God', and it would be illogical that they would not be with us in Heaven.

[Drahthaardogs]

21. My priests once told me "All things return to God"

It made and still does make perfect sense to me.

[ColesCountyDem]

22. Just so.

My pastor commented that heaven is all things good and lovely, so that must surely include our pets.

[baldguy]

3. .

Of course...

[Rhiannon12866]

6. That one always gets to me...

Thanks!

[rug]

10. "Travelers to unknown regions would be well-advised to take along the family dog."

[Prophet 451]

4. As my grimmer used to say...

...if heaven didn't have her dogs, it wouldn't be heaven. The belief that I will see our kitties again

[vlyons]

5. Doggie tails are wagging

and human heads are exploding. This pope is toooo muuuuch!

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

8. What I would give to see my Pyrs Abigail and Belle

Alive and healthy again. Two big, beautiful dogs, who helped me with my psychological problems by loving me.

[bluedigger]

9. “dogs and angels are not very far apart” - Charles Bukowski

[MADem]

11. Every year they have a Catholic Mass for the animals in this neck of the woods.

The Feast of Saint Francis in October. Several churches do it.

The animals are leashed, in crates, etc. but they go in and they have a service and they get the blessing, etc. I wonder how many pets leave a little memory in the church?

[rug]

12. I brought my daughter's chinchilla one year.

They don't like water. Living high in the Andes there's not much water so they've evolved to take sand baths.

When the priest came down the aisle sprinkling holy water, I covered the chinchilla. I hope that look he gave me earned him some time in Purgatory.

[LibertyLover]

13. Oh dear - the fundamentalists

are going to be very upset about this. They are adamant that heaven is only for people because animals don't have souls, so they can't accept Jesus and be saved. The last time one of the popes intimated that animals might go to heaven the fundigelicals here in the US screamed about it like nobody's business, saying that it was un-biblical and papist nonsense. I believe that one of the Southern Baptist honchos gave quite the denunciation.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

14. I think fundiegelicals....

Don't have souls.

jm-not-very-humble-o

[meow2u3]

16. Fundiegelicals don't understand the Bible like they think they do

There are several passages implying animals are destined for paradise when they die.

Did they ever hear of Isaiah 11:5-7?

Isaiah 11:5-7New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins
6 The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

Or Sirach 47:2-4?
Context: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Sirach+47:2-4&version=NRSVCE

Sirach 47:2-4New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
David

2 As the fat is set apart from the offering of well-being,
so David was set apart from the Israelites.
3 He played with lions as though they were young goats,
and with bears as though they were lambs of the flock.
4 In his youth did he not kill a giant,
and take away the people’s disgrace,
when he whirled the stone in the sling
and struck down the boasting Goliath?

This in the OLD Testament, mind you.

[rustbeltvoice]

17. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) is one of the seven

books (deutrocanonical) absent in most Protestant bibles.

Many Protestants believe in private interpretations of Scripture, but their 'private' interpretations become mandatory for others. Also, some of their interpretations defy logic and reason. Beyond that, many have a string of passages they construct their faith on; while other passages are terra incognito.

[meow2u3]

19. Scripture also warns against personal interpretation

Per 2 Peter 1:20-21

20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.[k]

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+1&version=NRSVCE

[whathehell]

18. Oh dear, the Aggressive Atheists already are..

They've been on a Mock-A-Thon about it for days now.

[okasha]

23. Sometimes the only way to tell the difference

between the Aggressives and the fundiegelicals is that the Aggressives say "fuck" a lot.

[whathehell]

24. LOl. .True, that.

[meow2u3]

15. Question is, do cats go to heaven?

Or is it something like this?
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[rug]

20. Lol!

I just let the damn cat back in.