Blogger Priest

QUESTION & COMMENT:

My name is Kelly the question I have is very simple. I grew up as an Orthodox Greek. All my life I have loved animals. I feed the raccoons and squirrels. I cannot even kill a bug. But all I’ve seen over the years is people abusing and torturing animals. Given all the hurt I have witnessed I cannot believe there is a God up there. I lost my dog Olivia. I had her put down because she was sick. I feel very guilty about that. I cannot imagine God allowing these animals to go through hell over and over again. What kind of God would let that happen?

Please explain what kind of God would allow animals to be physically tortured— for no good reason but for the sheer pleasure of it. I don’t know where my Livia is.  I don’t know what happened to her. I don’t know if she’s crying and waiting for me in some dark corner.  I don’t know anything anymore.

RESPONSE:

(I had to heavily edit your comment so as to understand it.)  Please know that God finds no pleasure in suffering.  God loves us and he loves all that he has created, including the little animals.  We live in a broken world where the harmony of creation is destroyed by original sin.  Not only animals, but many people also suffer in this valley of tears that we call the world.  I would not be tearful that your dog is suffering in some dark corner of the afterlife waiting for you.  Dogs may be touched by the sins of men but they cannot sin.  As a wondrous part of creation, your Livia has returned to God where there is only light.  You let her go because you loved her and did not want her to suffer.  Try not to feel guilty but trust that you did right by her.  I cannot explain why so many treat their animals poorly.  Maybe God put you here so that a few like Livia might know companionship, caring and love.  God bless you!

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