No confession by Iphone, Vatican warns
February 09, 2011
Reacting to a spate of publicity about an Iphone application that helps people prepare for Confession, the Vatican has issued a reminder that the sacrament of Penance requires oral confession to a priest.
Confession “requires a personal dialogue between the penitent and the confessor,” said Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office. “It cannot be replaced by a computer application.”
A new Iphone application, “Confession: A Roman Catholic App,” is designed to help Catholics prepare for Confession with an examination of conscience. Produced by an Indiana firm, the application is not intended to replace sacramental confession to a priest.
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Further information:
- IPhone confession app 'no substitute' for the sacrament (CNS)
- Vatican bans confession by iPhone (AFP)
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
Feb. 10, 2011 12:56 PM ET USA
Yes, the Vatican needs to clarify because some people and journalists don't read beyond the word "prepare" for Confession. Besides, it's not in the media's interest to be accurate in reporting Catholic Church activity.
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Posted by: AgnesDay -
Feb. 09, 2011 6:20 PM ET USA
So did Shepherd Smith on FoxNews. Gotta watch those guys.
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Posted by: Gil125 -
Feb. 09, 2011 4:01 PM ET USA
It is doubtless true that the developers of the app didn't intend it to be more than it is, but I find it hilarious that the Vatican would see a need to say, hey, you can't phone it in. And that Agence France Presse would take the whole thing seriously.
