Priest tells congregation it's OK to steal

A priest has angered police in the UK after using his Christmas sermon to advise people hit by the recession to shoplift.

The UK's Telegraph reports Father Tim Jones, 42, also suggested stealing from national chain stores rather than targeting small, family-owned businesses.

The priest argued his advice did not break the eighth commandment "Thou shalt not steal" because "God's love for the poor and despised outweighs the property rights of the rich."

Mr Jones told his congregation: "My advice, as a Christian priest, is to shoplift."

"I do not offer such advice because I think that stealing is a good thing, or because I think it is harmless, for it is neither."

"I would ask that they do not steal from small family businesses, but from large national businesses, knowing that the costs are ultimately passed on to the rest of us in the form of higher prices."

"I would ask them not to take any more than they need, for any longer than they need. I offer the advice with a heavy heart and wish society would recognise that bureaucratic ineptitude and systematic delay has created an invitation and incentive to crime for people struggling to cope."

The priest from North Yorkshire was later slammed by police and politicians, describing the sermon as "irresponsible".

A spokesman for Yorkshire police told the Telegraph: "First and foremost, shoplifting is a criminal offence and to justify this course of action under any circumstances is highly irresponsible."

"Turning or returning to crime will only make matters worse, that is a guarantee. We recognise some people find themselves in difficult circumstances but support is readily available and must be sought."