Confession-Related Question

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Sariah

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Y’all, I need some advice on something. First, please know that I’ve long since confessed this, so please, no lectures.

In a different life, I was a little thief. I stole something that was sacred to the LDS faith. This thing is still in my possession and I cannot give it back to the person. It seems disrespectful to throw it away, and donating it is verboten.

I am no longer LDS, haven’t believed in the church in a long time, but I still want to be respectful of their sacred things.

What the heck do I do with this? Father gave me no guidance.

:-/
 
For Catholic sacramentals, when they are of no further use (i.e., too worn out, destroyed, etc.), they can generally be burned and the ashes buried in some respectful location (i.e., the woods, in a flower bed, etc.).

I know this isn’t a Catholic sacramental, but if you want to be respectful of the item and can’t give it back, you could take that route. Burn it, and bury the ashes somewhere respectful. That way, you’re taking at least as good care of it as you would a worn out rosary that had been blessed.
 
Sariah said:
Y’all, I need some advice on something. First, please know that I’ve long since confessed this, so please, no lectures.

In a different life, I was a little thief. I stole something that was sacred to the LDS faith. This thing is still in my possession and I cannot give it back to the person. It seems disrespectful to throw it away, and donating it is verboten.

I am no longer LDS, haven’t believed in the church in a long time, but I still want to be respectful of their sacred things.

What the heck do I do with this? Father gave me no guidance.

:-/
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If you cannot return it to the person, why not return it anonymously to some LDS official with a note that you are not LDS but wanted this object, which had come into your possession, to be dealt with appropriately.

I have had non-Catholics over the years give me religious articles of their deceased Catholic relatives that they wanted to dispose of but did not want to do so in a way that would be inappropriate from a Catholic perspective. I always thanked them for not simply throwing the items away.
 
Don and Tis gave the advice I would have given. Anonymous mailing, maybe with an apology even, would be the best way to go. God Bless You!
 
Jerome1974 said:
Don and Tis gave the advice I would have given. Anonymous mailing, maybe with an apology even, would be the best way to go. God Bless You!
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Not even a note or apology is necessary. Either just mail it to a nearby LDS facility, or if there is a temple or gathering place nearby, anonymously drop it off by the entrance where it’s bound to be found. No need to say anything, explain anything, or identify yourself. If anything, just indicate where it can be returned to (e…g “Please return to the LDS space in …Springfield.”)
 
Don_Ruggero said:
If you cannot return it to the person, why not return it anonymously to some LDS official with a note that you are not LDS but wanted this object, which had come into your possession, to be dealt with appropriately.

I have had non-Catholics over the years give me religious articles of their deceased Catholic relatives that they wanted to dispose of but did not want to do so in a way that would be inappropriate from a Catholic perspective. I always thanked them for not simply throwing the items away.
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Thank you Father for this sound advice.
 
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