Dogs in Heaven? Pope Francis Leaves Pearly Gates Open

[moonbladem]

Pope Francis has given hope to gays, unmarried couples and advocates of the Big Bang theory. Now, he has endeared himself to dog lovers, animal rights activists and vegans.

Trying to console a distraught little boy whose dog had died, Francis told him in a recent public appearance on St. Peter’s Square, “Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures

Comments

[mercystars]

I hope the boy found some comfort in that, i really do. When my dog died I was told I'd never see her again because she had no soul and wouldnt go to heaven. Remarkably awful, shitty thing to say to a four-year-old.

[natyanayaki]

WHAT THE HELL? WHO SAID THAT TO YOU? I'M SO SORRY!

[mercystars]

my mother. =/

and it's okay, I know she was wrong. =)

[natyanayaki]

Ugh, I'm so sorry, but I'm glad you know it was wrong. I was trying to come up with a way to send you a dvd (well, I guess vhs) of All Dogs Go to Heaven...you know, build a time machine or something (THIS IS IMPORTANT).

[akashasheiress]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the Catholic Church has ever rejected the Big Bang theory?

[lurkerwisp]

The modern Church doesn't. My best science education as a kid was when I was in Catholic school, and they didn't have to pretend that evolution was 'just' a theory or pretend that creationism is real science.

[scolaro]

I never understood how you could tell small children (or really anyone, for that matter) that animals have no soul and won't go to heaven.
It's cruel and if you're a believer it would be better if you're told that there's some discussion about that and NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE.

But of course that's not what religion is about.

[thelilyqueen]

And, why should animals not having a soul (granting that as true for a moment for the discussion) justify cruelty by those of us who supposedly do, or keep them out of heaven which is supposed to contain all good things?

[scolaro]

Well, I don't know anyone who believes animals don't go to heaven and for that reason thinks it's fine to be cruel to them, so I can't speak to that connection.
And as an atheist, I also cannot say much about why creatures without a soul are kept out of heaven - wasn't that a "compatibility issue"? If you don't have a soul you simply can't get in, like the odd PC game you cannot play on your PS3?

IDK, it's all utterly ridiculous in my book, and incredibly cruel to tell children this sort of BS, ESPECIALLY since the jury is apparently still out on that particular theological issue.

[thelilyqueen]

Yeah. All I know is, heaven doesn't sound like such a heaven if there are no snuggles from happy, purring cats or walks in beautiful places with a canine buddy.

[layweed]

But what about cats?

[fabrisse]

Their souls may already be headed to the other place. Mind you, I think they're more likely to get together and wonder whether we have anything, besides use of our opposable thumbs, to offer them.

[blackjedii]

cats are infinite

they wouldn't bother being in the same heaven as such lowly creatures as human beings

[jocelyncs]

Perfect answer! LOL!

[4o5pastmidnight]

Great news for this grumpy day. :)