Dear Brenda:

Well, such things have to be taken on a case-by-case basis and upon the discernment of one's confessor. I will give a couple of examples but keep in mind that the examples given may be work in one case and not in another.

For one possible example:a person shoplifts from a store and then feels greatly guilty and remorseful and thus comes to confession to confess this sin.

The store manager is one that always prosecutes to the fullest extent of the law anyone who shoplifts from his store. The person who sole the merchandise has a large family, a mortgage, is a tusted employee, and has a standing in the parish. The item stolen was rather trivial.

The harm that could be perpetrated upon this family -- husband in jail, loss of home, loss of job, loss of trust in the parish -- is far worse in proportion to the theft. The priest could advise the person to return the item anonymously, or to give it to charity, or to throw it away, and to give twice the equivalent of the cost of the item to charity.

Or another situation, a person has stolen something a long time ago or otherwise is in a situation in which it is not possible to return the item. Again the item can be donated or throw away, and a penance of a monetary gift to charity imposed.

Yet another example is that a person could have innocently forgotten that he had some merchandise on him when he left the store. Given the known strictness of the store manager it is unlikely that the manager will believe that it was a mistake and will prosecute. Such a situation is beyond reasonable justice and could cause great harm to the person and his family merely because the store manager was hard nosed about prosecuting without regard to the fact that it was a mistake. In such as instance to anonymously return the item if possible, or to give it to charity may be prudent.

I do not know if these examples are good ones or not, but the bottomline is that there are some situations in which returning the stolen property will cause a harm out of proportion to the crime for a person who is truly repentant. The person certainly needs to be deprived of the stolen item, hence give it to charity, and an additional penalty in reparations.

It is very dangerous to speculate on these matters. One cannot take these examples and then with pre-meditation steal something thinking that they will not have to come forward to the police.

Such pre-meditation an attempt to circumvent moral justice would be a greater sin.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary