Would someone who committed a crime be required to turn themselves in?

[divinefaith]

I’ve read threads on these forums which suggest a priest cannot require the penitent at confession to turn themselves in for committing a crime. I find this confusing. I know that in some countries its a civil right for someone who’s committed a crime to choose not to incriminate themselves, however, would God really forgive someone who wants to get away with it?

 

[LilyM]

I’ve read threads on these forums which suggest a priest cannot require the penitent at confession to turn themselves in for committing a crime. I find this confusing. I know that in some countries its a civil right for someone who’s committed a crime to choose not to incriminate themselves, however, would God really forgive someone who wants to get away with it?

In what sense are they ‘getting away with it’?

True they may not spend time in prison or pay a fine or whatnot - but remember any penalty they (or we - and do any of us really imagine we’ve fully made up for the horror that is even the most minor venial sin?) do not make up on earth will be made up for in purgatory, in a way that is infinitely more just than anything our legal systems could possibly possibly devise anyway.

 

[divinefaith]

In what sense are they ‘getting away with it’?

True they may not spend time in prison or pay a fine or whatnot - but remember any penalty they (or we - and do any of us really imagine we’ve fully made up for the horror that is even the most minor venial sin?) do not make up on earth will be made up for in purgatory, in a way that is infinitely more just than anything our legal systems could possibly possibly devise anyway.

I understand what you mean. I even understand that we need to make restitution/amends for our sins while on earth (as far as we can). However, where does one need to stand in terms of taking the responsibility a citizen?

 

[LilyM]

I understand what you mean. I even understand that we need to make restitution/amends for our sins while on earth (as far as we can). However, where does one need to stand in terms of taking the responsibility a citizen?

Well, one should take ones responsibilities and obligations as a citizen seriously. However, there is no requirement of any citizen to turn themselves in to police and fess up to having committed a crime. Nor to take the stand in court and there incriminate oneself. Nor to do so in any other way or place.

In regards making restitution - remember that volunteering for legal punishment is usually not the only way one can make amends or restitution. And remember also that we have obligations - for example to our spouses and children - and we need to weigh up the hardship and suffering it may cause them, as innocent parties undeserving of such hardship or suffering, for us to be locked up or whatnot.

 

[JRKH]

I’ve read threads on these forums which suggest a priest cannot require the penitent at confession to turn themselves in for committing a crime. I find this confusing. I know that in some countries its a civil right for someone who’s committed a crime to choose not to incriminate themselves, however, would God really forgive someone who wants to get away with it?

This is a good question and truly there is no simple, clear cut, answer. There are many factors that can effect a given situation.

The simplest answer to your bottom line question is that God will NOT forgive the person who “wants to get away with it”…
But then, why would such a person be confessing if they are not truly sorry and willing to do what they can to make restitution?
You see? If the persons confession is nothing more than part of “getting away with it”, then their contrition is either 1) false, or 2) imperfect.

As to factors that might effect how one moves forward…There are many that most be weighed. Type of crime, when it occurred, seriousness, who was hurt, ability to make restitution, what the individual is called to do by the Spirit…All of these things must be considered.
In many cases turning ones self into the law could actually hurt ones ability to make restitution. Say for example you robbed a man of 1000 dollars. Could you repay him from jail? Certainly not…Though you could seek to repay him after you are released from jail…But then would it not be better to repay him sooner rather than later?
Having already repented of your sin, is jail the best way to make reparation to society? Is it the best way to heal your soul?
Would not spending retreat time at a monastery be a better “incarceration” and wouldn’t volunteering at community charities be a better reparation?

Of course there might be instances where a confessor would feel compelled to advise one to turn themselves in. If a crime is new and people are suffering or at risk then the confessor might advise the penitent turn themselves in to alleviate the dangers and sufferings of others.
For instance…If the person were involved in a missing person crime…the family distraught, the community searching - even in dangerous places and terrain etc…the confessor might well advise the person to turn themselves in for the purpose of alleviating the suffering of the family and to protect those who have been searching.

Obviously the above is a rather extreme case, but I’m sure you can see that there are many possible permutations involved. Each person, each crime, each case would need to be looked at individually and NOT from the civil standpoint, but from the spiritual one.

Peace
James

 

[Nimzovik]

Ooooooops! I better just run in right now and turn myself in for all my speeding traffic violations.

 

[Giggly_Giraffe]

Satisfaction

1459 Many sins wrong our neighbor. One must do what is possible in order to repair the harm (e.g., return stolen goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered, pay compensation for injuries). Simple justice requires as much. But sin also injures and weakens the sinner himself, as well as his relationships with God and neighbor. Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused.62 Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must “make satisfaction for” or “expiate” his sins. This satisfaction is also called “penance.”

1460 The penance the confessor imposes must take into account the penitent’s personal situation and must seek his spiritual good. It must correspond as far as possible with the gravity and nature of the sins committed. It can consist of prayer, an offering, works of mercy, service of neighbor, voluntary self-denial, sacrifices, and above all the patient acceptance of the cross we must bear. Such penances help configure us to Christ, who alone expiated our sins once for all. They allow us to become co-heirs with the risen Christ, "provided we suffer with him."63

The satisfaction that we make for our sins, however, is not so much ours as though it were not done through Jesus Christ. We who can do nothing ourselves, as if just by ourselves, can do all things with the cooperation of “him who strengthens” us. Thus man has nothing of which to boast, but all our boasting is in Christ ... in whom we make satisfaction by bringing forth “fruits that befit repentance.” These fruits have their efficacy from him, by him they are offered to the Father, and through him they are accepted by the Father.64

-CCC

 

[zenith15]

If someone were to turn themselves in for, say, a theft from 20 years ago, or a robbery, etc and then spends time in jail with hardened criminals, depriving his family of his desperately needed presence and financial support, forcing his wife to go to work and put the kids in daycare so that she barely makes any money anyhow, and when he is finally released, his career is ruined, he has a criminal record and cannot hope for anything better than a bottom level job unless he is extremely lucky, and will also be unable to rent any apartments and most homes–what greater good does that serve?

Jail/prison is vastly overused in this country, often for crimes that could easily be dealt with another way without permanently ruining the lives of the offender and everyone who depends on them. Just about everyone has done something at some time in their lives that could be considered a crime, from lying on your income tax returns to taking supplies from work to driving while tipsy to making threats to smoking pot to taking a friend’s Rx medication when they offer it to you, and so on. Sometimes the only difference between you and the person behind bars is that you did not get caught and they did.

SO, should we all call the police then and confess whatever we may have ever done that could be considered a crime of some type?

 

[Bill_7154]

I’ve read threads on these forums which suggest a priest cannot require the penitent at confession to turn themselves in for committing a crime. I find this confusing. I know that in some countries its a civil right for someone who’s committed a crime to choose not to incriminate themselves, however, would God really forgive someone who wants to get away with it?

While I feel conflicted, and in fact horrified, that an individual may get away with such crimes as murder or child molestation, I still support the santity of the convessional and what is said there stays there. People confess sin’s and do pennance to a priest in order get right with God and Jesus Christ, it’s not meant to get right with the law.

Ideally, a peson’s morality would sort of compel them to turn themselves in to receive just punnishment, but we all know that does not happen, certainly not all the time.

One question this raises for me is: Is the person committing a sin by doing such an act, and even though they go to confession and do pennance, are they committing a sin by not confessing to the police?

 

[zenith15]

While I feel conflicted, and in fact horrified, that an individual may get away with such crimes as murder or child molestation, I still support the santity of the convessional and what is said there stays there. People confess sin’s and do pennance to a priest in order get right with God and Jesus Christ, it’s not meant to get right with the law.

Ideally, a peson’s morality would sort of compel them to turn themselves in to receive just punnishment, but we all know that does not happen, certainly not all the time.

One question this raises for me is: Is the person committing a sin by doing such an act, and even though they go to confession and do pennance, are they committing a sin by not confessing to the police?

If the Church felt this were the case, surely they would have said so and included instructions for priests to refuse absolution to anyone unwilling to confess any and all “crimes” to the police as soon as they leave the confessional.