Catholics and crime

[joshringsell]

If a Catholic recently recalled doing something as a teenager (with questionable knowledge of what they were doing) which is a crime with a sentence of up to three years in prison in their country, are they obliged for reasons of morality and justice to notify the authorities, and potentially recieve the punishment?

 

[Irishmom2]

Perhaps your confessor would be able to advise you during confession.

 

[PJH_74]

Legally no, someone would have had to arrest you or sign a complaint and testified in court. I’m no lawyer, but my guess is the 5th amendment might also cover you. I would think it better if there was someway to make amends depending on the crime. You might be able to do something appropriate directly to the person or maybe donate to a cause that works against that sort of crime. I’d think you could also do it anonymously since you have or will have confessed it.

 

[Maximilian75]

I’d say it depends upon the severity of the crime.

Unless you killed someone or burnt down a house or a similar felony, I wouldn’t think turning oneself in is nessecary.

If it was a smaller crime (vandalism, shoplifting) I would say that making a donation to your parish or a favorite charity would be a good way to make amends for your crime.

 

[neophyte]

If a Catholic recently recalled doing something as a teenager (with questionable knowledge of what they were doing) which is a crime with a sentence of up to three years in prison in their country, are they obliged for reasons of morality and justice to notify the authorities, and potentially recieve the punishment

Not necessarily. I’d have a chat with my confessor or spiritual director.

 

[Gabika50]

What would be the “value added” in your life to do such a thing? Is there a statute of limitations? And if you confess it (if your religion calls you to do this), the next question would be if you believe that God forgives you, why can you not forgive yourself?

 

[Arkansan]

No. Confess it and (if it was a violation of commutative justice) make restitution discreetly.

 

[CatholicSpirit]

Confess if you can. Review statute of limitation laws on a program like Tor where your research cannot be monitored by mass surveillance. You can confess that it was committed “quite some time ago” and not be specific with dates.