Animals Receive Blessings in Salt Lake City
Henry, a Chihuahua mix, licks the face of Anne Davis, close friend of Rhonda Kamper, right, Henry’s owner. Henry has also become the dog behind advocates who are pushing to make animal cruelty a felony. (Jessica Ravitz/The Salt Lake Tribune )
Dogs Are Blessed at Utah Church
Do animals have souls? Most animal lovers would probably say yes. They love, they play, they think. They share our lives, they seem to know our thoughts and communicate with us. How are they different from humans?
Theologically speaking, many churches offer blessings to animals each October on St. Francis of Assisi’s Day, October 4. However, this past Sunday, a church in Utah did something similar to raise funds for the Humane Society of Utah and Heifer International, a nonprofit that donates farm animals to impoverished families. Christ United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah, has held an annual animal blessing since 2001.
The short service, which was open to everyone, included passages from Genesis, responsive reading, and a prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
Most of the two dozen pets attending were dogs, including special guest, Henry. According to the news story in the Salt Lake Tribune by Jessica Ravitz http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_5830097:
The black Chihuahua mix is the poster dog for efforts to make animal cruelty a felony in Utah. In May 2006, Henry lost an eye after being chased with a leaf blower. Several weeks later, Henry was placed in a 200-degree oven for five minutes, leaving the dog permanently scarred.
Each pet was given a special Certificate of Blessing, as well as a goodie bag, courtesy of The Dog’s Meow of Salt Lake City and Draper.
According to the story, the pastor, the Rev. Steve Goodier, wouldn’t say whether animals have souls.
But looking out at those who surrounded him, he said most animal lovers believe that “whatever happens after this life, it’s going to be incomplete without their pet friends.”
