Can a priest make confession of a crime as a penance?

[AdoroTeDevote]

Always wondered if let’s say you stole something or robbed someone and confess it to the priest if their penance could be to turn yourself in or return the stolen goods or whatever.
Not in this situation myself lol just curious
Grazie

 

[poche]

The priest cannot require you to turn yourself in. However if you stole something you are required to make restitution.

 

[TomH1]

No, he cannot.

 

[TheLittleLady]

However if you stole something you are required to make restitution.

Not if it will in any way reveal the penitent’s anonymity.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

No. He might suggest that you think about doing so, but he cannot make it either a penance, or a condition of absolution. It would just be a suggestion on his part and you’d be free to totally reject it.

 

[phil19034]

Always wondered if let’s say you stole something or robbed someone and confess it to the priest if their penance could be to turn yourself in or return the stolen goods or whatever.
Not in this situation myself lol just curious
Grazie

short answer… no he cannot.

 

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Nope… He cannot.

But the penitent has to have intent to repent.

 

[awesomecatholic]

No. He might suggest it but you don’t have to.

 

[poche]

Restitution could take the form of a charitable donation. There are many gifts to charity that are in reality disguised forms of restitution.

 

[Weave]

No, if a Priest could do that it could deter people from Confession. While turning oneself in for a crime would be a desirable outcome and the right thing to do it is an issue that should be resolved outside of the confessional.

 

[twf]

As we are required to obey just laws, couldn’t not turning oneself in constitute another sin (disobedience to authorities)? …even if a priest can’t require a penitent to do so.

 

[poche]

That could be if an innocent person will be punished.

 

[porthos11]

As we are required to obey just laws, couldn’t not turning oneself in constitute another sin (disobedience to authorities)? …even if a priest can’t require a penitent to do so.

No because turning oneself in, even if guilty, is not commanded by law. In fact, it is a RIGHT of every person to NOT have to turn oneself in, confess, or incriminate oneself, that burden being turned over to the State. So there is no disobedience to any law. This is a right held by any civilized society that has any form of concern for individual rights.