Pope Francis: Animals Can Go to Heaven

Johnboy60

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Pope Francis continues to show he's anything but traditional. During a recent public appearance, Francis comforted a boy whose dog had died, noting, "One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God's creatures." Theologians say Francis—who took his papal name from the patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi—was only speaking conversationally. But the remark is being seen by some as a reversal of conservative Catholic theology which states that because they are soulless, animals can't go to heaven, the New York Times reports. In 1990, Pope John Paul II said animals have souls, but his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, gave a 2008 sermon that seemed to say the opposite.

Pope Francis: Animals Can Go to Heaven
 

Inkachu

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Sorry, but the Pope doesn't speak for God. And truth isn't dependent on what a Pope says or does. We already know that animals will be in heaven and on the new earth (Isaiah 11:6). There will be trees, fruit, plants, rivers, (Rev 22:2) etc. It makes no sense that the new earth will be full of things that we have on THIS earth, and somehow animals will be left out. I won't say that I KNOW that our pets go to heaven, but I wouldn't be one bit surprised if they do.
 
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Belk

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Sorry, but the Pope doesn't speak for God. And truth isn't dependent on what a Pope says or does. We already know that animals will be in heaven and on the new earth (Isaiah 11:6). There will be trees, fruit, plants, rivers, (Rev 22:2) etc. It makes no sense that the new earth will be full of things that we have on THIS earth, and somehow animals will be left out. I won't say that I KNOW that our pets go to heaven, but I wouldn't be one bit surprised if they do.


I was under the impression that Catholics believe that he does? I know you are not catholic but is that not the case?
 
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Aryeh Jay

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Actually, we have known that all dogs get there since 1989. This is just more of a conformation that other animals are included as well.

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WindStaff

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Pope Francis continues to show he's anything but traditional. During a recent public appearance, Francis comforted a boy whose dog had died, noting, "One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God's creatures." Theologians say Francis—who took his papal name from the patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi—was only speaking conversationally. But the remark is being seen by some as a reversal of conservative Catholic theology which states that because they are soulless, animals can't go to heaven, the New York Times reports. In 1990, Pope John Paul II said animals have souls, but his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, gave a 2008 sermon that seemed to say the opposite.

Pope Francis: Animals Can Go to Heaven

Animals being soulless, to be perfectly blunt, is just plain stupid. All life has a soul, life cannot be soulless. People don't understand what a soul is.
That is an idea that came directly from conservative nuttiness. The consequence of conservatism is that most of the absurd beliefs remain. In other words, where is it said anywhere that animals have no souls except explicitly from fanatics?
 
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Inkachu

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Animals being soulless, to be perfectly blunt, is just plain stupid. All life has a soul, life cannot be soulless. People don't understand what a soul is.
That is an idea that came directly from conservative nuttiness. The consequence of conservatism is that most of the absurd beliefs remain. In other words, where is it said anywhere that animals have no souls except explicitly from fanatics?

What makes you think this has something to do with being conservative? :scratch:
 
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The Twister

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Inkachu

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I'm not insulting the Pope or hating on the man. I'm simply disagreeing with the belief that he is God's mouthpiece. For me, he isn't. The Bible says we have ONE mediator between God and man, and that's Jesus. Anywho. Not here to start a theology debate.
 
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What makes you think this has something to do with being conservative? :scratch:

The idea of animals not having souls is patently out of the fanatical conservative Christian type.

I'm sorry to say it, but it's the truth. You've never heard that belief from an open-minded, sober Christian.

I believe that those such as St. Augustine, for example, would fully agree that animals have souls.
 
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Pope Francis continues to show he's anything but traditional. During a recent public appearance, Francis comforted a boy whose dog had died, noting, "One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God's creatures." Theologians say Francis—who took his papal name from the patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi—was only speaking conversationally. But the remark is being seen by some as a reversal of conservative Catholic theology which states that because they are soulless, animals can't go to heaven, the New York Times reports. In 1990, Pope John Paul II said animals have souls, but his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, gave a 2008 sermon that seemed to say the opposite.

Pope Francis: Animals Can Go to Heaven

But the real question isn't whether animals can or cannot go to heaven. The real question is whether they have to be Roman Catholic to do so.
 
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Inkachu

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The idea of animals not having souls is patently out of the fanatical conservative Christian type.

I'm sorry to say it, but it's the truth. You've never heard that belief from an open-minded, sober Christian.

I believe that those such as St. Augustine, for example, would fully agree that animals have souls.

Do you have anything to back up this claim? I've heard various people throughout my life express a belief that pets don't go to heaven, but no one that I'd call "fanatically conservative".

Does anyone else have a response for this assertion?
 
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Paulos23

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It's really no shocker that the secular world loves the newest Pope. He's sinking the Catholic Church!

He is their newest PR guy trying to improve the Church's image to the world after the bad press they have gotten.
 
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Belk

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Animals being soulless, to be perfectly blunt, is just plain stupid. All life has a soul, life cannot be soulless. People don't understand what a soul is.
That is an idea that came directly from conservative nuttiness. The consequence of conservatism is that most of the absurd beliefs remain. In other words, where is it said anywhere that animals have no souls except explicitly from fanatics?


There are going to be bacteria in heaven?
 
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