You are here:
Catholics/Am I a thief
Advertisement
Question
About a year ago, I took some articles from my local parish without asking. They were Rosery and divine mercy pamphlets, Adoration booklets and a manuel that gave advice on how to get a parish to thrive. I did not take very many,(I didn't want anyone to notice), and the parish manuel I took had another copy, (I would not have taken it otherwise). I did this after deciding to become Catholic, (I will be finally converting in a few days). I have not caused any huge problems thus far doing what I did. The reason that I did it was because the parish was going through a crisis, (New age Priest and parish council who are both manipulitive and extreme poloticing and a financial crisis.) I took them so that maybe at some point in the future the Catholic community in our area could be rebuilt in the future. I was even at some point distrubiting panphlets at some point, ( I have seen one person who finds Catholicism interesting even if they don't have any intentions to convert.) I am not trying to justify what I did, I am only trying to accurately discribe the situation. Rev. Father, what shopuld I do?
Hi, Dymias:
Thank you for the question.
First of all, I want to congratulate you and welcome you to the Holy Catholic Church. Sorry to hear about the troubles and difficulties with the Priest at that Parish.
I would recommend that you obtain new copies of each thing you took, and return them to the Parish. This would be a matter, then, of making restitution for the theft. The value of the actual items is probably not much; but stealing them from the Church makes it a grave matter.
Perhaps the Rosary and Divine Mercy Pamphlets were placed there for people to take?
Pehaps even the Parish Manual?
If you could ascertain that those were there for the taking, then it would not be stealing. So you need to determine the facts as they stand, and take action accordingly.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Related Articles
- Shakespeare's Grave – Learn About Shakespeare's Grave
- Sacrament of Confirmation - Catholic Confirmation - Sacrament of Confirmation in the Catholic Church
- Show Your Support for Pope Benedict XVI - Offer Prayers and Support for Pope Benedict XVI
- Pope Benedict's Mass in Washington, D.C. - Mass at the Washington Nationals Stadium
- Beliefs and Rituals - World Religions
Answers by Expert:
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.