INTRODUCTION.
Hello, everybody, Welcome to the second Sunday School post. I think last week's post was a success, spurring lots of conversation and questions. Today, we will be examining a question posed by @borz_kriffle. For those unware, these Sunday School posts are an initiative I was drawn to begin. Each Sunday (or Saturday, depending on the occasion), it is my hope to answer a question or address a teaching related to the Catholic faith.
I like to preface these posts with a quick warning: I am not perfect. Like all of us, I am flawed and in need of God’s grace. I am bound to make mistakes, so I ask for your patience as I learn throughout this journey. Yet, I would like to remind everybody that the imperfections I have do not take away from the truth I hope to convey. For example, if I misrepresent a Church teaching, it is a direct consequence of my actions, not the teaching itself being false. I encourage you to correct me charitably if I err and to pose genuine questions in the comments, but keep in mind these posts are not meant to debate and I may not respond to argumentative comments.
Lastly, I urge everyone to approach this with an open mind and heart. As C.S. Lewis said: "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance." If these discussions help resolve obstacles to faith, they could lead you to the most significant decision of your life.
QUESTION.
Today's question is the following: "Do animals have free will? If not, what is free will defined as? If so, can they sin, and did Jesus die for them as well?" Before answering the question, it's important to understand what free will actually entails. Free will is the God-given ability of human beings to choose freely between good and evil, enabling them to act voluntarily according to their reason and conscience.
ANSWER.
Animals do not have free will the way humans do; they lack the capacity for moral reasoning, which are necessary for true free will. Just because animals are unable to make moral decisions does not mean they are not intelligent. Some animals are remarkably intelligent, exhibiting problem-solving, communication, and even emotional behaviors. However, their intelligence is fundamentally different from the rationality of humans. Animals operate according to instinct and learned behaviors, which can sometimes appear highly sophisticated. Yet, they do not possess the spiritual, immortal soul that allows humans to engage in moral reasoning or to know and love God in a conscious, voluntary way. Consequently, sin requires moral responsibility, which comes from the exercise of free will and rational intellect. Sin is a deliberate offense against God, requiring knowledge of the act's moral character and the freedom to choose it. Since animals lack rational souls, they are incapable of making such moral judgments or deliberately disobeying God. Their actions, even when they might cause harm, are not morally imputable.
So, we know they are unable to sin, but did Jesus still die for them? Jesus died specifically to redeem humanity from sin and reconcile us with God, as only humans, made in God's image, are capable of sin and moral responsibility. However, His sacrifice also has cosmic significance, as all creation, affected by sin's disorder, awaits renewal. Through Christ's death and resurrection, not only humanity but all creation will one day be restored to its original harmony and freed from corruption. In this sense, animals and the rest of creation are included in the redemptive plan of God—not because they sin or need salvation in the same way humans do, but because they are part of the created order that will one day be restored to its original harmony.
Animals cannot sin, but Jesus still died for them (in a sense). It seems these truths are converging to one essential question: Will we see animals in heaven? Or more specifically, will we see our pets in heaven? This question is not definitively answered by Church teaching, but there are theological reflections that provide hope and insight. Animals, as part of God's creation, reflect His glory and goodness (Genesis 1:25, Psalm 104). While they do not have immortal souls like humans, who are destined for eternal union with God, the renewal of all creation in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1, Romans 8:21) suggests that animals may share in this restored order. This is not because they require salvation but because they are part of the beauty and harmony of God's plan. For those who have beloved pets (including myself), it is reasonable to hope that God's infinite love and the joy of heaven might include a way for that love to be fulfilled. Heaven is the perfect fulfillment of all good desires aligned with God's will, and if our pets are part of what would contribute to that joy in God's perfect design, we can trust in His generosity and providence. While we cannot say with certainty that we will see our pets in heaven, we trust in God's goodness, knowing that all things will be made new and complete in Him.
SUMMARY.
Animals do not have free will or the ability to make moral decisions as humans do, since they lack rational souls and the capacity for moral reasoning. While some animals display intelligence and emotional behaviors, their actions are driven by instinct, not deliberate moral choices, making them incapable of sin. Sin, which requires free will and rationality, is unique to humans. Jesus died specifically to redeem humanity from sin, but His sacrifice also has cosmic significance, promising the restoration of all creation, including animals, which suffer under the disorder caused by sin. Though animals do not require salvation in the same way as humans, they are part of God's redemptive plan. The Church does not definitively teach whether we will see our pets in heaven, but the renewal of creation in the new heavens and new earth offers hope that animals, as part of God’s glorious design, may share in this restored order. Trusting in God's infinite love and providence, we can reasonably hope that heaven will fulfill all good desires in perfect harmony with His will, possibly including our cherished relationships with beloved pets.
CLOSING REMARKS.
Thank you to everybody who has read this week's Sunday School. I have formulated this post in a rather tired state, so I apologize if anything is unclear or confusing. If this is the case, please address me in the comments. Regardless, I hope it was an interesting read, and I encourouge all readers to continue their persuit of truth!
