Restitution for sin

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Hello all! This is my first post here. I am preparing to examine my conscience for my reversion to the Church. I have a question about making restitution for past sins.

The first sin involves lying or greatly stretching the truth (exaggerating) on a resume and in an interview to get a job. The issue is, the job I lied about is my current job. The reasoning for lying (Not a good excuse) was I have a horrible job history. Am I obligated to quit my job since I could have kept others from getting the job?

My second question involves theft. I have lived a very sinful and deplorable life. I have in the past had a bad habit of stealing change from my parents on a fairly regular basis or stealing alcohol from their house. I have spoken with my dad about this and he told me the debt is forgiven and not to worry about paying him back. Must I still make restitution for this to be absolved even though he had forgiven the debt and theft?

Any help is appreciated. Please pray for my family and me as we prepare to come back home!
 
Go to Confession and confess your sins.

Restitution for theft only if it’s possible.

If it’s a long ago sin, just confess it and move on.

Your confessor will advise you on this.

God Bless
Jim
 
First off welcome to CAF and especially, welcome back to the Church!! It is a wonderful thing you are doing!!

Kudos to you for coming clean to your about stealing change. I know you must feel better about it. Be sure to mention these things at your next confession.

As far the job / application process goes, this is the type of thing you should discuss with your priest, and or your spiritual director. We all try to paint ourselves on a job application in the most flattering light, most employers know this. It is never good to flat out lie, but again, at the very least confess it, and discuss it.

Again, welcome back to the church!
 
I am no spiritual expert on the restitution process. But some common sense, at least to me:

Sometimes we can make an exact restitution but often we cannot. We can always offer extra prayer, sacrifices, and good works as restitution for past sins.

As for the resume lie - a hard call. Disclosing your lie to your employer could mean that you get fired. Your employer could have verified your resume. At this point is seems it matters more that you are an excellent employee. Still, if the employer ever learns of the lie, he could fire you. But if he sees you are an excellent worker, your job might be safe.

On this matter, remember I am no expert. Just my personal thoughts.
 
A debt forgiven is a debt forgiven.

Is it certain that you would not have been hired had you not lied?
 
How would quitting your job be restitution? Are you doing the job to the satisfaction of your employer?
 
I would say restitution should be done as far as it is reasonable. It is especially so if the sin involves damaging other people. If it is just about yourself or that your lie does not cause damage or loss to others except to your own credibility, then probably you can just move on.

On the other hand, your sins are forgiven once you are absolved by the priest during Confession. You perhaps just need to undergo the temporal punishment as decided by the Lord.

God bless.
 
Welcome to CAF and welcome home. I would talk you priest about this.
 
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