A priest has caused a bit of a ‘to-do’ by telling his flock it’s O.K. to shoplift.
Father Tim Jones told his congregation that the Lord’s Command ‘not to steal’ was not absolute. That the Lord would turn a blind eye if they wanted to do a bit of shoplifting to alleviate their poverty – if that was the alternative to murder or prostituting themselves to obtain cash for their needs.
However if their poverty drove them to shoplift then they should target big stores and the rich and should do so only for as long as was necessary and take only as much as was needed to satisfy their want.
Father Jones’ interpretation of the Good Book and his advice to his flock has not gone down well with local police or politicians. It remains to be seen whether the Bishop endorses Father Jones’ view !!!
