What needs to be done- restitution

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If someone had attained money illicitly (e.g. stealing, fraud etc.) and they use that money in buying goods, paying fees etc.

If they were to repent, they need to make restitution. However they can’t give the stolen amount to the owner (the owner can’t be accessed, traced or for another valid reason). What would need to be done? would the person who illicitly attained the money be morally permitted to keep the goods they purchased or hold onto the benefits they received from that money.
 
The obligation of restitution still remains. My understanding is that if the person is unable to make direct restitution for whatever reason, he may give the value of the stolen items to a charity. This duty remains even if the sin was spiritual, like detraction or calumny. You should clarify with your priest, but here is the instruction in the Catechism:
2412 In virtue of commutative justice, reparation for injustice committed requires the restitution of stolen goods to their owner:

Jesus blesses Zacchaeus for his pledge: “If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” Those who, directly or indirectly, have taken possession of the goods of another, are obliged to make restitution of them, or to return the equivalent in kind or in money, if the goods have disappeared, as well as the profit or advantages their owner would have legitimately obtained from them.

Likewise, all who in some manner have taken part in a theft or who have knowingly benefited from it - for example, those who ordered it, assisted in it, or received the stolen goods - are obliged to make restitution in proportion to their responsibility and to their share of what was stolen.
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A person also needs to repair the damage done to another’s reputation, as far as possible, admitting their guilt and confessing the truth to those that he lied to. St. Gerard Magella was involved in this type of horrendous slander, and the perpetrator finally confessed on her death bed and he was exonerated. But oh my, how he suffered at her hands until the truth was finally revealed.
 
A person needs to follow the guidance of their priest in the confessional on the matter, not strangers on the internet.
 
Ques_answered said:
If someone had attained money illicitly (e.g. stealing, fraud etc.) and they use that money in buying goods, paying fees etc.

If they were to repent, they need to make restitution. However they can’t give the stolen amount to the owner (the owner can’t be accessed, traced or for another valid reason). What would need to be done? would the person who illicitly attained the money be morally permitted to keep the goods they purchased or hold onto the benefits they received from that money.
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Whatever you purchased with that money is stolen goods. Whatever benefit you received because of that money is a stolen benefit. You should look at those goods as causing separation from Jesus, and get them out of your life as soon as possible. Donate the things to charity, with a glad heart. The benefits are harder to give back but it’s possible. You could actually go to the agency and tell them that you still owe the debt because you did not get the money honestly. And then pay off the debt with honest money.

Or, going all the way, you could turn yourself in for the crime of fraud or theft. But please speak to your priest about this, and a lawyer. Some people make full restitution for their crimes but do it with full awareness of what you are doing. It needs to be done carefully.

These are the temporal effects of sin which we will be sent to purgatory to purify.
 
TheRealJuliane said:
Whatever you purchased with that money is stolen goods. Whatever benefit you received because of that money is a stolen benefit. You should look at those goods as causing separation from Jesus, and get them out of your life as soon as possible. Donate the things to charity, with a glad heart. The benefits are harder to give back but it’s possible. You could actually go to the agency and tell them that you still owe the debt because you did not get the money honestly. And then pay off the debt with honest money.

Or, going all the way, you could turn yourself in for the crime of fraud or theft. But please speak to your priest about this, and a lawyer. Some people make full restitution for their crimes but do it with full awareness of what you are doing. It needs to be done carefully.

These are the temporal effects of sin which we will be sent to purgatory to purify.
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I find your post confusing as I thought restitution is supposed to be made to the owner or if not possible to charity. i don’t exactly understand how a person giving away those benefits/goods would have repaired the actual damage done, unless the value is given to the owner of course.
 
Ques_answered said:
Please clarify what is meant by the temporal effects of sin.
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The temporal effects of sin would be what is left over after the sin is forgiven. One example is for someone who fornicated before marriage, and contracted a sexual disease. Even if that person confesses the sin and is absolved, the temporal effect of the disease remains. Or someone who committed adultery - they could lose their marriage.

Someone who stole, and got caught, could have a prison sentence or have to pay a fine.

Is that clear?
 
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