Struggling to pay your debts and meet the cost of Christmas

that is horrible, i know christmas is a tough time of year as people struggle to meet their expectations as well as others for the holiday and more often than not, that includes money, but stealing is not the answer.

OK but should I wait until business hours and go shoplift something? Or would it be better to go over at night and break the store window with a brick?

I still couldn't steal no matter for my conscience refuse to let me...or is that the voices arguing again..

He must be living in a poor parish and is hoping his congrgation will steal for HIM so he'll have pressies under the tree for his own family. LOL Either that or he's just lost his mind and has a weird interpretation of the Ten Commandments, which I always thought were pretty straightforward in their meaning...

He missed the mark, although I understand why he advocates that stealing to survive is better than committing worse crimes either to themselves or others. What he should have talked about, in this season on giving, is those who can doing more. Jesus taught that what is done to the least of his brethren is done to him. If some one is in the position to have to steal or perish, we who can are not doing enough.

They've removed the link now Pikey but come on, the daily mail. Come on, give a synopsis now its not there.

OK let's see the fundamentalists get a hold of this one, and start looting my apartment in the name of "love." LOL Love for who? The recipient of the hot items, or the person they've stolen from, or is it my love, because I made a sacrifice by allowing the looters to steal my stuff? No thank you! I'm going to stick with earning gift cards on line, and buying everyone books. LOL

That is so wrong! Stealing is just plain wrong! I can't believe they're saying it's okay. What is wrong with those people?! Yikes!

You know Pike, since England is the land of Robin Hood, I think the Anglican priest has taken him as an example. However, most of the historical heroes were really villians, and they became heroes because, in course of time, all the bad things which they have done was not written by the historians and so only the good things remained. So after a few years, who knows, this priest might be a future Robin Hood.

No stealing is not the solution. If one has to say sorry we cannot afford to exchange gifts so be it. People should understand. I know it's harder to explain to children especially whom still belive in Santa. But there are many groups out there to help families out w/ gifts for their children one just has to know where to sign up!

Hi p1ke, well what a thing to come from a priest! At least now we know we can steal without it being a sin! lol Are you going to help me with the next bank I plan to rob then? hugs LoLo

Hi p1key, The man has lost the plat, are you sure he is not from "Father Ted" lol, that is the wrong message he is sending out to people, its not the needy that shops lifts anyway, I have come across people who shoplifts just for the fun of it, I used to work in the retail business and, had got a youth trying to take out something without paying for it, he had one of those flash mobile phones he used to ring his mate up but we call the police, the police later told us they were one of the gangs that has been going round shoplifting for so weeks, so this priest should get his act together.Hugs. Tamara

I've only just caught up with this, and it stopped me in my tracks. I can hardly believe it's true. (Knowing the press, there is probably a lot more behind it than was reported, and some context we are not privy too.) But this guy certainly let himself in for the criticism. At least they tempered the article with advice from the Archbishop at the end - for those that read that far.

What a totally stupid thing to say. I can just see all the court cases, everyone stating how they had permission from the Church to do it, or even it was a mission from God. Surely stealing to have a Christmas is going against what Christmas actually stands for. So it's good will to all man and take what you want then? I just think that people who have a standing in a community should always think before they comment. I think if anyone follows this advice that they are the people who would have been stealing for Christmas, or just anything, anyway.

hi pikey no,its certainly not, shame on that Anglican priest, shopplifting will get you nothing but a jail sentence, not any money at all. I don't think God would appreciate this at all. I can just get along on what is legally mine and know my conscience is clear. So my gifts are inexpensive and practical but they are all paid for legally.