Yes help them - but the solution is not shoplifting

I agreed with Lord Carey when he said: “Of all people, priests ought to know right from wrong.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/8431610.stm

Father Tim Jones’ advice to his church congregation to shoplift when they are in a desperate situation is, however, totally and utterly immoral and illegal as it encourages them to break the law.

Shoplifting, without doubt, is a clear act of stealing; whether one steals from a small shop or from any of the big chains. I wonder what would have been the reaction of the congregation when they heard this advice from their priest! Did it come as a complete shock to them? Was it regarded as unbelievable advice? Or were they utterly bewildered by it?

Be it church, mosque, chapel or temple, people come to their religious places seeking a moral path and not to be deliberately misguided or encouraged to commit any sort of crime.

Yes, there is a safety net provided by the state. Yes there are scores of charities and churches who provide care and food for people in need.

I wonder whether Father Tim had asked the congregation to look out for the vulnerable people in their midst and in their communities and urged to help them out.

In times of suffering and need, and when religious leaders recognise the vulnerability of some people in their communities, surely this is the time that the moral dimension in people is given a boost and a support mechanism is created.

Religious guidance should give people dignity and guide them towards a dignified life. Even from a social perspective, what would happen if desperate and poor people in any community were encouraged to steal and rob from others to fulfil their needs?

What would happen if the decent and most vulnerable people in the society are encouraged today to go out and shoplift; an easy option to outsmart others. What if others follow in their footsteps? What if they, in turn, encourage other people in similar situation to go out and commit this immoral act?

Would it not have been the right way to encourage the better off and economically stable people in society to look after those who are in need and are vulnerable? Perhaps it would have been a good idea to suggest a brotherhood circle or a church welfare or community care fund.

One of the five pillars of Islam is ‘Zakah’, an obligatory act of financial charity, when people are obliged to take out 2.5% of their saving after it has reached a certain annual threshold. That purifies the earned wealth as well as fulfils the needs of people in need. When members of human society are not capable of caring for themselves, God the Almighty intervenes and shows a way that everyone can live a dignified and independent life, without resorting to any immoral means. An undignified life in a society is a disgrace on the dignity of the rest of the members of that society or that congregation. Putting things right should be a collective act. Looking after each other and creating strong social bonds is one of the characteristics of all religious teachings and we should sincerely follow that path.

Towards a better understanding

Standing at our monthly Awareness Stall, we are too often approached by a lady. A regular visitor to the stall, always vocal and visibly antagonistic towards Islam and the Muslims, her appearance raises feelings of trepidation.
Offering no greeting, she asked me recently, very directly “Have you been on the march?”. Bewildered I asked “What march – which march. Which march are you talking about?”.
The lady then produced photocopies of the Daily Express, containing an article supposedly from a group calling itself Islam4UK, in which they were asking for Shariah Law to be implemented in the UK. The copies also contained a mocked up picture of Nelson’s column representing a Minaret. The march was being held by the supporters of this group, which was later called off.
I informed her that I do not read the Daily Express, nor was I a member of Islam4UK, and asked why she thought I had attended the march. The lady was very persistent in saying I had attended, but then reverted to her more usual accusations against Islam and the Muslims.
On previous occasions she had reminded me that Christians do not have freedom of religion in Muslim countries, while Muslims had such freedom here. The lady also argued the pious and sinless history of the Christians, and that Christian values allowed the West to enjoy the Blessings of God, a situation rarely found elsewhere, especially in Muslim countries.
On another occasion she had introduced her Pastor to me. After a lengthy conversation with him, I was astonished to hear him claim the miracle of healing, saying that he had brought sight to many born blind children, and when walking the streets, was constantly approached by them expressing their gratitude.
I told him that, if this was true, he could benefit many more patients by working within the NHS. He stated that he had achieved cures in hospital wards, but that many patients lacked faith in Christianity and the healing ministry of Jesus, and became angry. The Hospital expelled him.
I engage in considerable interaction with Churches, fellow Priests, and many friends of many different faiths. We all join in a common aim to promote understanding and tolerance of each other and the practise of our respective faiths. Yet I constantly read malicious materiel written about the Prophet Mohammed, Islam and the Muslims, by those who call themselves Christians. Suffice it to say that Jesus Christ is regarded by us, the Muslims, as a much honoured and highly respected member of the chain of prophet hood, chosen by the Creator and the Most Merciful. We would never use abusive or denigrating language about him.
Our Awareness Stall is intended to help all who would promote greater understanding between people and faiths. With so much that is wrong in the world at present we hope that our efforts will contribute to this goal and encourage people to trust each other.