From my (non-Catholic) position, forgiveness is for the Penalty of sin (death), and NOT for the Consequences of sin. Those still have to be paid for. So yes, I agree with ffbj when he says the 'penance' should be to turn oneself in to the authorities after receiving absolution in a Catholic confessional. Mind you, Protestants don't have those. We'd turn them in if they wouldn't do so voluntarily.