I understand humans are above all creatures, but i also understand we must respect other creatures and not be cruel. 1. Are lab workers who abuse animals mentally and physically for “experiments” committing a mortal sin even though it isn’t against the law? 2. Are Farm/company owners committing mortal sins by raising animals in inhumane and cruel conditions. 3. Will animals go to heaven?
Thanks!!!
God always looks at the intent of the heart. A person’s actions and words reveal a lot about the person. Jesus said, “from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks”, and the same could be said for their hands or deeds. So a person who malevolently abuses animals could very well be in mortal sin because of the intent of their heart and their resistance to God’s graces. There is a strong connection between people who abuse animals and people who eventually go on to abuse people or become serial killers.
On the other hand, animal abuse is also frequently a sign of people who have been abused themselves, or who have a severe mental-social disorder, or both. So, whether these people are really in mortal sin or not is only known to God. We might think that we are better than these people when we could be just like them - or worse - if we had lived their life. This is why we must never judge and always pray for everybody no matter how repugnant.
I remember when I was a 3-year-old boy, I did something very bad. I would take the cats on the farm and I would carry them up to the porch and then hurl them off the porch. I remember I found this amusing and my parents saw me do it but didn’t stop me. I also remember how my parents would frequently shout and yell at each other. I still have a distinct memory of being curled up in a ball in my bed and crying while there was a thunderstorm outside and my parents were shouting at each other downstairs. In retrospect, all these years later, I really do believe there was a connection between how I treated the cats as a toddler and the fighting of my parents. I believe my maltreatment towards the cats was a twisted way to feel like I had control or power over something in my life.
Animals do not possess rational souls like human beings or angels, which means they cannot experience the Beatific Vision. The Beatific Vision is
supernatural love between God and the creature. But, it is possible that animals can enjoy
natural happiness in Heaven. Because man was always meant from the beginning to ascend far beyond the glory of Eden, we are not destined for natural happiness but supernatural happiness, should we choose.
