Father Tim Jones, Anglican priest of the parishes of St Lawrence and St Hilda, York, has delivered a sermon to his congregation telling them that, in some circumstances, it is permissible to go shoplifting, provided they choose the right sort of victim – which, in Father Jones’s terms, means the Tesco or Sainsbury on the retail park, rather than the eight ‘til late on the corner:
“I would ask that they do not steal from small family businesses, but from large national businesses, knowing that the costs are ultimately passed on to the rest of us in the form of higher prices.”
I see; it’s a kind of redistributive self-help.
But what about the eighth commandment? I can’t recall that that was qualified in any significant way. “Thou shalt not steal” seems pretty unequivocal. Not a lot of wriggle room there.
Father Jones patiently explains:
“My advice does not contradict the Bible’s eighth commandment because God’s love for the poor and despised outweighs the property rights of the rich.”
Father Jones’s “advice”, in fact, is total, unadulterated baloney. A sensible priest who wished to emulate God’s love of the “poor and despised” would offer them tireless, unconditional succour, comfort and support, rather than encourage them to break the law, with all the potentially devastating consequences that might flow from doing so.
It can be done. And if he wants to see how, he could do a lot worse than visit his nearest branch of the Salvation Army.
Yes! Particularly if you leave out the Sally Ally bit.
I find myself in total disagreement with you and would point you in the direction of the following blog which explains the true Christian view of stealing in such circumstances: http://www.civitas.org.uk/wordpress/2009/12/22/a-thought-for-christmas/#more-1886
People can express any view they like, the bottom line, is stealing is against the law of the land.
The offence itself has been devalued by the criminal justice system and is more often than not dealt with by fixed penalty which is not recordable. That is where views like this spring from. That is to say if the law does not take it seriously why should society.
Tinker with the law at your peril, encourage people to look at theft in a redistributive way if you like but take care, burglary will be next and rape.
We need rules in our society, we suffer from do-gooders. Discipline comes from rules.
By all means deal with a thief as an individual and assess the circumstances but leave out the pompous bible punching.
Drivel, and dangerous drivel from Tim Jones. The first consideration of any legal action for theft are the social circumstances of the offender and their state of mind. There are professionals to make sure that he/she receives all the help they need to reintregrate into society. Indeed, offenders have recourse to far more state help and sympathy than the average victim in our courts.
I recall teaching at the Llandrillo college where socioligists taught the same rubbish to imressionable teenagers; hopefully their (the teenagers) common sense prevailed
Is Tim Jones sailing close to the wind re the offence of aiding and abetting an arrestable offence? What a wonderful defence he has supplied to any neer do well. And does he also advocate a little violence if challenged I wonder? Perhaps as long as bones are not broken?
By stealing from supermarkets, we all pay says Tim. Yes, even those in worse circumstances than the thief are obliged to pay, those who have chosen not to waste their cash on booze and drugs, and choose not to break the law. I despair of the intellectual idiots infecting our society.
I’m off Christmas shopping with my hoody mates. I don’t need money, Tim says so!
Lord Carey has a thing or two to say about this at this link
http://www.policeoracle.com/news/Ex-Primate-Condemns-Call-To-Steal_21226.html