Stealing....reperations

[havok579257]

Ok so years ago my brother gave me an illegal computer program costing somewhere around 100 dollars. earlier this year/late last year i confessed it in confession. now my intention was always to get ride of it but it would always slip my mind. i never had an intention of keeping it, i had the intention to get rid of it but it always slipped my mind or i would plan on doing it later in the day when i thought of it but then forgot and i still have it. i just recently finally dealt with it. so my question is, because i kept forgetting/putting it off, to get rid of the stolen item, is that sinful?

[TeresaBenedicta]

[quote name='havok579257' timestamp='1308683552' post='2256894']
Ok so years ago my brother gave me an illegal computer program costing somewhere around 100 dollars. earlier this year/late last year i confessed it in confession. now my intention was always to get ride of it but it would always slip my mind. i never had an intention of keeping it, i had the intention to get rid of it but it always slipped my mind or i would plan on doing it later in the day when i thought of it but then forgot and i still have it. i just recently finally dealt with it. so my question is, because i kept forgetting/putting it off, to get rid of the stolen item, is that sinful?
[/quote]

You hit on a very important point concerning penance- the act of reparation. Here is what the catechism has to say:

"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. Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused. 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." CCC 1459

From what you say here, it sounds to me that there was no way for you to return or to pay for this stolen item. If that is so, then your requirements to justice are fulfilled in the penance you were given (and hopefully fulfilled).

So in that regard, I do not believe that what you have described is sinful. Unless you could have returned or paid for it or if getting rid of it was part of the penance given to you by the priest who heard your confession.

Just go ahead and get rid of the item now.

Also a question to ask yourself: Have you used the item since you confessed? Continuing to reap benefits from a stolen product might put into question the sincerity of your contrition.