Posted on 12/21/2009 1:08:32 PM PST by mdmathis6
A clergyman has been criticised as 'highly irresponsible' after advising his congregation to shoplift following his Nativity sermon. Father Tim Jones, 41, broke off from his traditional annual sermon yesterday to tell his flock that stealing from large chains is sometimes the best option for vulnerable people. It is far better for people desperate during the recession to shoplift than turn to 'prostitution, mugging or burglary', he said.
The married father-of-two insisted his unusual advice did not break the Bible commandment 'Thou shalt not steal' - because God's love for the poor
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1237470/Priest-advises-congregation-shoplift.html#ixzz0aMLEepVv
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
FMCDH(BITS)
Why not steal from the collection basket right after a ‘rich’ man puts in his contribution?
Wonder if he’s ever heard of the whole ‘Thou shalt not steal’ thingy ... not really a commandment, I guess, more of a general guideline. < /sarcasm>
Cold?
Burn the pews
Apparently it doesn’t much to be a priest or a president these days! ;-)
What a toolbox.
The Ten Commandments have been whittled down and watered down in many churches for a long time now.
Dumb?
Elucidate, pray tell...me or the priest?
Sounds like Father Tim might have inhaled a little too much incense.
“Thou shalt not steal thingy ... not really a commandment”
Oh heck, that’s just one of those thingy’s from “The Ten Suggestions”.
Well..lets see..you steal, you get caught, you get caught, you go to jail. There you will get, free room and board..meals, tv, hot showers, entertainment, free health care.
Hmmm..watta ya say we all hit the local walmart. Then nobody has to worry about the economy, cap and tax, healthcare, or anything.
Maybe this guy is on to something?
I imagine it won’t be long before this so-called “priest” will preach that it’s also okay for “the poor” to kill “the rich.”
What denomination is this “priest” ordained under?
No, the commandments have no caveats - they are absolute, and Jesus expanded on them to include our thoughts and desires as well.
Why can’t this “priest” help out his poor parishioners?
Solicite alms and distribute them to the needy. Take food and clothing donations. That’s the way it’s done.
Even if... who determines the line between rich and poor? This priest? I am not certain from this article which congregation or denomination he belongs to, but the higher-ups should definitely lay down a rebuke on this guy.
Toolbox? You’re being nice, aren’t you?
Appears Anglican, i.e., the Church of England. But, be careful about smearing everyone. The reason it’s newsworthy is it’s so absurd. Get back to work.
“because God’s love for the poor outweighs his love for the rich.”
The thing I really took notice of was the priest’s statement that God would love one more than the other. The Bible is “harder” on rich people, but the Bible also speaks of many of the poor as having gotten that way because of their own sinful and destructive habits.(Consult Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, for example)
So perhaps I’m interested in know if the poor have more of intrinsic worth to God than rich folks. Seems to me all men need God!

I wonder why!
Thou shalt not steal. Trust in the Lord to provide. As a believer, stealing would show a willingness to break the Commandments and as well display an mistrust that the Lord will provide. No gray areas with God. Wrong is wrong.
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