Good and Bad news for Catholic Iphone users

#1 · 11-02-2011 2:12pm #1

Catholic confessions have gone i, with ipods, ipads, iphones comes now the i-confession.

'Confession: A Roman Catholic app' is the first application to be approved by a church authority.

“Bishop Kevin Rhoades, of the Diocese of Fort Wayne in Indiana, has officially authorized the app for Catholics to use,” Little iApps, Indiana, told ‘Reuters.’

The application walks Catholics through the sacrament and contains what the company behind the program describes as a "personalized examination of conscience for each user".

"Our desire is to invite Catholics to engage in their faith through digital technology," said Patrick Leinen of Little iApps.

The firm said the content of the app was developed with the help of Reverend Thomas Weinandy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Reverend Dan Scheidt, pastor of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Leinen said the app, which for $1.99, has already aided one man in returning to the sacrament after 20 years.
"We hope many more will take advantage of this new confession resource," he added.

The Vatican has made major steps to embrace the 21st century. Pope Benedict XVI gave his blessing to social networking declaring, "I would like then to invite Christians, confidently and with an informed and responsible creativity, to join the network of relationships which the digital era has made possible."

If you think you can get out of going to chapel though you have another thing coming.:p

THE CATHOLIC Church in Ireland has stressed that a new smartphone “confession” application is not a replacement for a priest despite receiving the approval of an American bishop.
“Confession: A Roman Catholic App” is available on iTunes for €1.59 and provides a step-by-step guide to the sacrament as well as advising on suitable acts of contrition.
It is the first iPhone application known to receive an “imprimatur” – a licence granted by a bishop certifying the church’s approval of publication.
The director of the Holy See’s press office, Fr Federico Lombardi pointed out that the Vatican did not regard the app as a replacement for actual confession.
“It is essential to understand that the sacrament of penance requires a personal dialogue between the penitent and the confessor in order for absolution to be given. This cannot be replaced by any computer application such as the iPhone,” he said. A spokesman for the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference yesterday gave the Vatican’s position which “succinctly summarises the issue from the Catholic Church perspective.
“The acts of the penitent and the absolution of the priest who, in the name of Christ, grants forgiveness and determines a way of repentance. The sacraments can never be substituted by technology,” he said. In their statement announcing the release of the application, the developers said the app “invited Catholics to prayerfully prepare for and participate in the rite of penance. “Individuals who have been away from the sacrament for some time will find ‘Confession: A Roman Catholic App’ to be a useful and inviting tool,” the statement said.

The Catholic Church cracks me up.

Kasabian · 11-02-2011 2:13pm

Jesus has one but he is on meteor?

Gunsfortoys · 11-02-2011 2:19pm

Brilliant that they have no problem launching it then saying it has absolutely no credibility as to "absolve people". Basically take the money but frown upon it.

Sanjuro · 11-02-2011 2:21pm

Wow. This is like the selling of indulgences. With that and all the other controversies, I wonder is there another Martin Luther gonna pop up somewhere and nail his reformation to the door of a church. Or since it's the 21st Century, maybe he'll announce it with some sort of Banksy-style graffitti.

gurramok · 11-02-2011 2:22pm

Gunsfortoys wrote: »

Brilliant that they have no problem launching it then saying it has absolutely no credibility as to "absolve people". Basically take the money but frown upon it.

That's religion for ya! If you want a mass said for a deceased loved one, they charge a few euro for the privilege.

Basically, money is the root of all prayer.;)

PogMoThoin · 11-02-2011 2:25pm

Its too late,
Some smart bastid already setup "Dial a Prayer", its cleaning up

Duggy747 · 11-02-2011 2:26pm

ICumLoads187: Father, I've sinned + wish to confezz
Fr. ClintEastwood101: Ok
ICumLoads187: I called my sista bad names, z lies, tuk monay 4rm mammy
Fr. ClintEastwood101: Lol. 3 Hail Marys.

jester77 · 11-02-2011 2:35pm

Can you imagine the gossip the priests must have after a confession session, they must have some great stories!

TheZohanS · 11-02-2011 2:40pm

Duggy747 wrote: »

ICumLoads187: Father, I've sinned + wish to confezz
Fr. ClintEastwood101: A/S/L
ICumLoads187: 28/m/ie
Fr. ClintEastwood101: Has disconnected.

FYP

marty1985 · 11-02-2011 3:10pm

Religious apps are big business.

Muslims have loads of apps to point them in the direction of Mecca for prayers, Buddhists have loads of apps for Buddha's quotes, and Christians have loads of apps too. I think the Catholic Church are just approving of this to get people educated about confession again, as it's one of the things that nobody bothers with anymore. I also know loads of people who download the Bible for free as an app, just in case. :rolleyes: