A Chilean man caught stealing from a Catholic parish church was sentenced to go to mass regularly for one whole year.
Alexis Araneda, 18, will also have to carry out menial chores at the San Antonio de Padua parish, located in the town of Ercilla, 580 kilometers south of Santiago.
The alternative punishment was proposed by authorities, part of changes in Chilean legal rules.
Araneda was sentenced for stealing cylinders of liquefied gas which the church used for heating. He also damaged property in the April robbery, committed as he returned after binge drinking with friends at a party.
A few prayers to St. Dismas would be in order that perhaps next year he will go on his own accord.
4 comments
Well, that’s a nice punishment. Too nice.
Hopefully this young man will see the wonderful oppertoonity God has given him to change his life around.
Is that sort of how Les Misarbles begins?
The hero steals from a bishop (or just a parish priest?). When he gets caught, the priest merely gives him more valuables with the admonishment, ‘I ahve purchased you for Christ, go and do good.’
I hope this young man lets Christ into his heart and that someday- if only in Heaven- we hear of the good thief of Ercilla!
Amen to that, Lily