StephaneLaliberte you used the example of a poor child stealing an apple and would it would not be the moral thing to call the cops on the child even though he is breaking the law. While yes it is not the moral thing to do to call the cops on the child would it be the right thing to do to turn a blind eye and let the child think that it is acceptable to steal from someone else? In your example you talked about wouldn’t Jesus give charity to the child in the form of a bag of apples. But that is not stealing a bag of apples, you’re not condoning the child from stealing the bag of apples but you're encouraging the charity of a bag of apples.
Still, on your example let’s say that same child is 10 or 11 so they are able to reason a little bit more. Would that child feel good about stealing that apple from your store because they are hungry or wouldn’t they feel guilty for doing it? Would they think back on the way that their parents raised them and remember their mom saying don’t steal, unless you’re in real need then it is ok? Probably not, they would think back to what their parents taught them that stealing is always wrong. They would be having a constant internal struggle debating what they need and what they know is right and wrong. Do you see that same feeling in this couple that is breaking the law? Do you see an internal struggle or remorse that they are breaking the law or do you see arrogance when they have been shut down that they are the ones being persecuted for breaking a law that applies to everyone.
Let’s just change your example to the universal example that has plagued philosophers and ethicists around the world. Let’s say you are a father and you feel you need to steal bread for your hungry family. You go into a store and steal bread and you get caught and they call the cops. The cops come and let you off with a warning that you can’t steal bread from the store. The cop then tells you there are legal means that you can use to help your hungry family in fact right next door there is a food bank that you can get free food and there is no penalty for taking food from there, you just have to obey the law. But instead of going the legal means the next day you go back to the store and steal some bread again, and the cops come and let you go with a warning reminding you that there are legal means to help your family. Again you ignore their warning and do it again and this time the cops come and arrest you. Are you really the victim of the cops or the store owner not being moral people? No, they consistently warned you and told you that of course, you have a duty to feed your family but there are legal means to do so, but you refuse to take their warning to stop breaking the law.