I have no pretensions at being a theologian. Indeed, one day, when feeling particularly exasperated I let out a verbal ejaculation which prompted my brother the vicar to remark that there was no evidence - even in the Apocrypha - that bicycles were around in the First Century, and even less evidence that Our Saviour had ever ridden one.So I cannot comment on these two contradictory images sent in by Fleur's mum Georgina, except to say that as His Holiness is infallible, then the bottom message from Our Lady
of Martyrs Catholic Church is obviously the truth.Not only is the Pope infallible, but I wouldn't want to go to a heavan where my dear departed doggies weren't allowed through some piece of pettifogging theological idiocy.
So there!
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The Pope is only infallible as long as he does not conradict already accepted doctrine but for whether or not animals go to Heaven, look up Isaiah 11: 6-9.
Also, if legend is based on truth, 13th Century stigmatist St. Francis of Assisi baptised a wolf and the purpose of baptism is to cleanse the soul so that it might live forever.
I think it's closer to the truth to say only humans go to hell.
Lord Byron seemed to think that dogs deserved heaven more than people.
"But the poor Dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his Master’s own,
Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,
Unhonoured falls, unnoticed all his worth,
Denied in heaven the Soul he held on earth –
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,
And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven."
--George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, "Epitaph to a Dog."
Bryon wrote this piece on the death of his Newfoundland dog, "Boatswain," who had contracted rabies and then died of the disease. (I don't know what kind of Newfoundland Boatswain was, because there were two types. One was a big dog, like the breed we call a Newfoundland today, and the other something like a Labrador and the ancestor of all the retrievers.)
I don't know whether such a place called Paradise exists, but if it does, my dogs had better be there. They certainly deserve it more.
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