Thou shall not steal!

This is part of an article published in the Yorshire Evening Post.
Published Date: 21 December 2009
I don't have much time to read papers so I was surprised to read this story in an american blog...

Father Xxxxx, parish priest of St Lawrence and St Hilda in York, said stealing from large national chains was sometimes the best option many vulnerable people had. He told the congregation on Sunday: "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."
He said society had failed many needy people and said it was far better that they shoplift than turn to more degrading or violent options such as prostitution, mugging or burglary.
"Rather, this is a call for our society no longer to treat its most vulnerable people with indifference and contempt."When people are released from prison, or find themselves suddenly without work or family support, then to leave them for weeks and weeks with inadequate or clumsy social support is monumental, catastrophic folly. We create a situation which leaves some people little option but crime."
The Venerable Richard Seed, Archdeacon of York said: "The Church of England does not advise anyone to shoplift, or break the law in any way. Father Xxxxx is raising important issues about the difficulties people face when benefits are not forthcoming, but shoplifting is not the way to overcome these difficulties."