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Priest outrages police by telling congregation: 'My advice to poor is to shoplift'
Mail Online ^ | 12/21/09 | Graham Smith

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 ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: crime; police; poor; priest
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Well, does God really love the poor more than he loves the rich?
1 posted on 12/21/2009 1:08:33 PM PST by mdmathis6
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To: mdmathis6
Dumb

FMCDH(BITS)

2 posted on 12/21/2009 1:10:09 PM PST by nothingnew (I fear for my Republic due to marxist influence in our government. Open eyes/see)
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To: mdmathis6

Why not steal from the collection basket right after a ‘rich’ man puts in his contribution?


3 posted on 12/21/2009 1:10:16 PM PST by lesko
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To: mdmathis6

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>


4 posted on 12/21/2009 1:10:41 PM PST by Hodar (Who needs laws .... when this "feels" so right?)
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To: mdmathis6

Cold?

Burn the pews


5 posted on 12/21/2009 1:11:57 PM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Lukenbach Texas is barely there)
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To: mdmathis6

Apparently it doesn’t much to be a priest or a president these days! ;-)


6 posted on 12/21/2009 1:11:59 PM PST by 1776 Reborn
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To: mdmathis6
Father Jones told the congregation: 'My advice, as a Christian priest, is to shoplift. I do not offer such advice because I think that stealing is a good thing, or because I think it is harmless, for it is neither. '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.

What a toolbox.

7 posted on 12/21/2009 1:12:44 PM PST by Sax
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To: Hodar
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.

The Ten Commandments have been whittled down and watered down in many churches for a long time now.

8 posted on 12/21/2009 1:14:54 PM PST by TChris ("Hello", the politician lied.)
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To: nothingnew

Dumb?

Elucidate, pray tell...me or the priest?


9 posted on 12/21/2009 1:14:54 PM PST by mdmathis6
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To: mdmathis6

Sounds like Father Tim might have inhaled a little too much incense.


10 posted on 12/21/2009 1:15:05 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Remember in November! Throw all of the bums out!)
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To: Hodar

“‘Thou shalt not steal’ thingy ... not really a commandment”

Oh heck, that’s just one of those thingy’s from “The Ten Suggestions”.


11 posted on 12/21/2009 1:16:33 PM PST by Gator113 (Obama is America's First Failed Black Pres-dent.....)
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To: mdmathis6

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?


12 posted on 12/21/2009 1:17:35 PM PST by New Yawk Minute
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To: FlingWingFlyer

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.”


13 posted on 12/21/2009 1:17:37 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Remember in November! Throw all of the bums out!)
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To: mdmathis6

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.


14 posted on 12/21/2009 1:18:22 PM PST by MrB (The difference between a humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: mdmathis6
I believe the commandment "thall shalt not steal" is pretty clear and not open to one man's interpretation of its intent.

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.

15 posted on 12/21/2009 1:20:28 PM PST by AbeKrieger (Islam is a trojan horse designed to infiltrate and bring down Western civilization.)
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To: Sax

Toolbox? You’re being nice, aren’t you?


16 posted on 12/21/2009 1:21:36 PM PST by Sister_T (Stealing from the rich to give to the poor is still stealing ... Exodus 20:15)
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To: MrB

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.


17 posted on 12/21/2009 1:22:17 PM PST by jjmucr
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To: FlingWingFlyer; All

“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!


18 posted on 12/21/2009 1:25:03 PM PST by mdmathis6
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To: mdmathis6
This image comes to mind.

I wonder why!

19 posted on 12/21/2009 1:25:40 PM PST by An Old Man (Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without.)
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To: mdmathis6

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.


20 posted on 12/21/2009 1:25:48 PM PST by RoadGumby (For God so loved the world)
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