Roman Catholic bishops have approved a new iPhone and iPad app that allows users to make confession with a virtual “priest” over the internet.
“Confession: A Roman Catholic App”, which went on sale through Apple’s iTunes website for £1.19 last week, offers “a personalised examination of conscience for each user”, according to its makers. It asks penitents to list sins they have committed by misdeed or omission.
Senior Church officials in the US and Britain have approved the app, which they say can be used by Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/02/catholic-league-reacts-to-bogus-claims-about-iphone-app-for-confession-help/
here’s Fr. Z’s pretty thorough review of the “Confession App” (actually an examination of conscience app), complete with screenshots for those of us who either don’t have an iPhone, or don’t care to download the app out of curiosity
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/02/review-the-new-iphone-app-for-confession-useful-but-flawed/
Also, it seems one of the app’s developers is in communication with Fr. Z as well as some other techno-savvy clergy and is working to implement their suggested improvements and clarifications. I find the whole thing fascinating.. new technology meeting 2000 year old sacraments. It’s theology geek heaven!! =oD