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'Thou shalt shoplift' says priest

kai

kai

ragamuffin
Father Tim Jones, the parish priest of St Lawrence and St Hilda in York, said people should steal from big chains rather than small businesses.
He said society's attitude to those in need "leaves some people little option but crime".

BBC News - 'Thou shalt shoplift' says priest



i am off to Harrods to get the last my shopping Lol
 
M

Malleus_de_Philosophia

Member
Towards the end of the article, he claims his intention was to encourage charity. :sarcastic Sadly though, this message gets obscured when a priest says "I encourage you all to shoplift from large stores". I give him credit for trying to resolve a long-standing, difficult issue but encouraging people to commit a crime isn't a great way. He gives an example of someone coming out of prison. Well, let's think about this: you come out of prison and you have pretty much nothing according to him. You try, try and try but nothing happens. So his advice is to commit a crime to possibly end up where you were again, only to have the same cycle of problems occur once you're released. That and you get a longer criminal history, which further impedes attempts to get employment. So not only have you gotten back to where you were, you've gotten yourself in a worse off position with a longer criminal history and possibly more public awareness when the police need to catch you. I can see how it definitely resolves all the problems then. :rolleyes:
 
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Shadow Wolf

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
Well, when I used to shoplift I would only do from chain stores. Actually, Walmart was the only place I did hit because they can afford to take a loss to feed a family I was getting food for. Not a good message, but bigger stores can more easily afford the losses than smaller ones.
Sadly though, this message gets obscured when a priest says "I encourage you all to shoplift from large stores". I give him credit for trying to resolve a long-standing, difficult issue but encouraging people to commit a crime isn't a great way. He gives an example of someone coming out of prison. Well, let's think about this: you come out of prison and you have pretty much nothing according to him. You try, try and try but nothing happens. So his advice is to commit a crime to possibly end up where you were again, only to have the same cycle of problems occur once you're released. That and you get a longer criminal history, which further impedes attempts to get employment.
Click to expand...
Many convicted criminals do indeed return to crime because they can't get anything. While some people really never learn, some people do learn after the first time, but society for the most part does not like giving second chances.
 
M

Malleus_de_Philosophia

Member
Shadow Wolf said:
Many convicted criminals do indeed return to crime because they can't get anything. While some people really never learn, some people do learn after the first time, but society for the most part does not like giving second chances.
Click to expand...

I agree with this, however, it just seems odd that a priest would encourage crimes. I viewed the crimes as possibly being "sinful", so you have a priest encouraging sin. I'll admit that when it comes down to it, you have to do what you have to do but I wouldn't expect it from a priest.
 
gnomon

gnomon

Well-Known Member
The priest is an idiot.

Where was the argument that perhaps his congregation should do more to help people who are hungry.

On a logical level it's just moronic. What qualifies as a big corporation? Does he know how retail functions? A branch of a corporate chain could fold due to losses. The idea that "Oh, this _______ corporation can take the loss" is rationalized garbage.
 
Smoke

Smoke

Done here.
I would ask that they do not steal from small, family businesses, but from national businesses
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The Church, for instance. You wouldn't believe what some of those candelabra, chalices and patens are worth.
 
Shadow Wolf

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
On a logical level it's just moronic. What qualifies as a big corporation? Does he know how retail functions? A branch of a corporate chain could fold due to losses. The idea that "Oh, this _______ corporation can take the loss" is rationalized garbage.
Click to expand...
Well, Walmart can take a loss much easier than Cosmic Harveys (A local hole in the wall store). Walmart has billions, Harvey doesn't have a corporate headquarters to help bail him out when people steal from him.
Corporate branches can and do fold from losses, but they can take much more abuse than local businesses can. I know one lady who opened shop, and just started to make a profit, and then she had to close down. And she felt every single loss.
 
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