Yes, apparently it’s true.
Just grab this (paid) app and you can confess your sins. Even a Catholic Church Bishop has given this the go-ahead and approved it for use!
Protected by a password, the app invites users to examine their consciences and confess to their sins. But it won’t replace the old-school booth. The app, which costs $1.99, just goes through the motions of confession, but churchgoers must see a priest for absolution.
Is this the future of our faith? Something seems a bit “off” to me on this one.
[via Time]
Adam Shields says
I am not Catholic. So in some ways it doesn’t really matter what I think. But from what I understand, at least in part, it is because people aren’t going to confession. So the app is an attempt to educate those Catholics that really don’t know what confession is all about. I don’t think it is about eliminating the need for personal confession as much as facilitiating personal confession.
When was the last time as a protestant that you had someone really ask you about your sins? If it has been a while, then maybe an app like this is a step in the right direction.
BenJPickett says
I think that I saw a headline this morning saying that the app has been banned by the Catholic Church. I can’t seem to find it anymore to post a link.
I grew up Catholic and I never understood confessionals. It could have been because of my age and just a lack of understanding what actions fell into sin, my family left the church when I was about 7 years old. I understand it much more now and I don’t think it’s a bad idea because it gives you a private setting to openly discuss sin that you struggle with. Where I have the issue is the tasks your charged with to be forgiven.
Adam Shields says
I saw a headline that said it was banned by the Vatican, but everything else said it was approved by the US conference of Bishops. What I have read since is that the Vatican says you must have a conversation with a priest in order to be absolved. The makers of the app now say this is to prepare you for confession, but not intended to be an actually confession.