# Pope says all animals go to Heaven **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 9, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785 "2014-12-09T19:41:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/21 "2014-12-10T00:21:29Z")
> [@Sarabellum1976](#): > > I think they preach that BELIEVERS go to heaven. Right? Not non-Christians, and atheists. If everyone’s going to heaven automatically then why would anyone make any special efforts where religion is concerned? No, Catholic Doctrine allows for Jews and Muslims to go to heaven, and basically the followers of any other religion. There could even be a loophole for atheists if they, through no fault of their own, had not come to know God but tried to lead a good life. From [here,](http://www.americancatholic.org/e-News/FriarJack/fj102803.asp) the Vatican II Council announced: > [@](#): > > "Nor is God remote from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, since he gives to all men life and breath and all things (cf. Acts 17:25-28), and since the Savior wills all men to be saved (cf. 1 Timothy 2:4). Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through dictates of their conscience—those too, may achieve eternal salvation. > > “Nor shall divine providence deny the assistance necessary for salvation to those who, without any fault of theirs, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God, and who, not without grace, strive to lead a good life.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/22 "2014-12-10T00:37:15Z")
Could be kinda awkward, especially if one of the heavenly attributes is cross-species communication. Imagine running into a pig who provided the bacon for a BLT that you decided you just didn’t like enough to finish. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/23 "2014-12-10T00:50:24Z")
So the Pope is ant-plant! Figures. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/24 "2014-12-10T01:04:12Z")
The Pope never knew my cocker spaniel. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/25 "2014-12-10T01:29:50Z")
Tanks dere, Mr. Popeguy. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/26 "2014-12-10T01:39:33Z")
> [@Sarabellum1976](#): > > I think they preach that BELIEVERS go to heaven. Right? Not non-Christians, and atheists. If everyone’s going to heaven automatically then why would anyone make any special efforts where religion is concerned? \*\*Colibri \*\*has already come in with the official Church position…but I always figured it worked something like this: Even if you’re an atheist in life, you get one last shot when you die, and you appear before God for judgement. If you look at Him and say “Aw fuck…I thought you were just a fairy tale! Ummm…my bad…”, that’s enough to fulfill the ‘believer’ requirement. On the other hand, if you stare directly into His face and still say “Nope, sorry, you’re not real”…well, then you’re on your own. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/27 "2014-12-10T01:54:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Overreact much? I just found it mildly amusing to think about what animals would do in Heaven. Notice that I posted this in MPSIMS, not Great Debates? They will do what the people there are doing. Pointing down and laughing at the non-believers. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/28 "2014-12-10T03:43:18Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > No, Catholic Doctrine allows for Jews and Muslims to go to heaven, and basically the followers of any other religion. There could even be a loophole for atheists if they, through no fault of their own, had not come to know God but tried to lead a good life. > > From [here,](http://www.americancatholic.org/e-News/FriarJack/fj102803.asp) the Vatican II Council announced: Heaven’s kind of like the dope. Just don’t be a jerk and you’ll be welcome. ---
**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/29 "2014-12-10T05:20:57Z")
> [@](#): > > "Nor is God remote from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, since he gives to all men life and breath and all things (cf. Acts 17:25-28), and since the Savior wills all men to be saved (cf. 1 Timothy 2:4). Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through dictates of their conscience—those too, may achieve eternal salvation. > > “Nor shall divine providence deny the assistance necessary for salvation to those who, without any fault of theirs, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God, and who, not without grace, strive to lead a good life.” When I was going to Catholic grade school, I sometimes wished I had been born into a non-Catholic family, because it seemed so much easier to get to heaven. All I’d have had to do was lead a good life, in blissful ignorance of all the Catholic rules. If you’re a Catholic, one impure thought, having communion without the proper fast, or holding back an egregious sin at confession (something horrible, like arguing with brother) could get you a one way ticket to Hell, or so I thought at the time. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/848f3c/32.png) [@The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Holdsworth_Effect)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/30 "2014-12-10T06:23:22Z")
Heaven is being on Earth with your dogs/cats/pets. In my case, numerous dogs, a few horses, a few cats. Couple of rodent types. Crickets as a kid, and a toad, and a snake. Pope Francis is IMO the MOST real prelate the Church has had since the Boy Himself. What a gift to mankind. A non-Catholic who went briefly to Catholic grade school, I’m sure some of the nuns and priests are spinning in their graves (habit era). My lapsed Catholic Irish Grandda would smile quietly and return to Mass 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/31 "2014-12-10T06:24:33Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Surely His Holiness is mistaken about roaches and snakes. > Was he sitting on the Papal Throne at the time? > :dubious: Surely, not _serpents!_ ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/32 "2014-12-10T09:48:02Z")
> [@Sarabellum1976](#): > > I think they preach that BELIEVERS go to heaven. Right? Not non-Christians, and atheists. If everyone’s going to heaven automatically then why would anyone make any special efforts where religion is concerned? Not automatically, but heaven is potentially open to all according to Ctholic doctrine. The only way to be guaranteed to be refused entrance is to know that god exists and nevertheless consciously reject him. Atheists don’t fit this bill, since we don’t believe he exists. And why should any special efforts be required to enter heaven, anyway? This is just petty. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/33 "2014-12-10T13:30:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Will all the natural predatory animals be turned into vegetarians? Well to does say (traditionally) the lion will lay with the lamb. No indication that snacking is involved. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/34 "2014-12-10T13:48:32Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > And why should any special efforts be required to enter heaven, anyway? This is just petty. There are plenty of potential angels who would argue that it wouldn’t be heaven if “they” were allowed in. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/35 "2014-12-10T14:18:15Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Well to does say (traditionally) the lion will lay with the lamb. No indication that snacking is involved. What is a leech going to do in Heaven? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/36 "2014-12-10T14:43:11Z")
> [@JWT\_Kottekoe](#): > > When I was going to Catholic grade school, I sometimes wished I had been born into a non-Catholic family, because it seemed so much easier to get to heaven. All I’d have had to do was lead a good life, in blissful ignorance of all the Catholic rules. For many fundamentalists, it’s even easier than that. You just have to accept Christ as your personal savior. After that, you can do whatever you want. (Of course, if you’ve truly accepted Christ into your heart, you wouldn’t want to act like Dr. Evil, or even Hugh Hefner.) Only, as it turns out, that acceptance/belief part isn’t necessarily that easy. I tried for years, and failed. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/37 "2014-12-10T14:51:37Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Well to does say (traditionally) the lion will lay with the lamb. No indication that snacking is involved. The lion may lay down with the lamb. But the lamb won’t get much sleep. -Woody Allen ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/38 "2014-12-10T15:00:45Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. Anyone whoever said that has never been to hell. You can’t even get your iPod to work there! Also, that sentiment is great if you’re Lucifer, but the average Joe Sinner doesn’t\* get \*to rule in hell. His choices are serve in heaven or burn in hell. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/39 "2014-12-10T15:27:55Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > according to Ctholic doctrine. Was this supposed to be “Catholic” or “Cthulhic”? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785/40 "2014-12-10T15:33:26Z")
But Homer Simpson says that some dogs go to Doggie Hell: Blondi (Hitler’s dog) Checkers (Nixon’s dog) “One of the Lassies is in there, too. The mean one! The one who mauled Timmy!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-says-all-animals-go-to-heaven/706785.md?page=3)