Bogus Claims About iPhone Confession App

Catholic League ^ | 2/8/11

[marshmallow]

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on how Internet sites have characterized last week's announcement that a Confession application is now available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users:

"Confession: A Roman Catholic App" was developed by Little iApps to prepare Catholics for Confession. Specifically, the application guides Catholics through an examination of conscience, steering them through a series of questions that tap into issues addressed by the Ten Commandments. It received an imprimatur from Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend.

Patrick Leinen, the developer of Little iApps, cannot be faulted for the way some are characterizing this program. This application was never designed as a substitute for Confession: on the contrary, it makes it clear that only absolution by a priest in the confessional constitutes the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Even though most Internet stories mention this, many of the headlines are misleading. Here are some of them:

• "Can't Make it to Confession? There's an App for That"
• "Catholic Church Approves Confession by iPhone"
• "Bless Me iPhone for I Have Sinned"
• "Catholic Church Endorses App for Sinning iPhone Users"
• "US Bishop Sanctions Cell Phone in Confession"
• "Forgiveness via iPhone: Church Approves Confession App"
• "New, Church-Approved iPhone Offers Confession On the Go"
• "Confess Your Sins to a Phone in Catholic Church Endorsed App"
• "Catholics Can Now Confess Using iPhone App"
• "Catholic Church Approves Online Confession"

Headlines like these, coupled with remarks like, "The Church is gonna make a killing…$1.99 and your sins are digitally washed away," are irresponsible. The best we can say about those pitching these bogus claims is that they are clueless. The worst we can say is that they might benefit from purchasing the app and putting it to good use.

[Quix]

No brain transplant apps?

[Quix]

INDEED.

[Alex Murphy]

There was a story a few years ago about whether the Sacrament of Confession could be validly administered via the Interwebs. The answer from Rome was unequivocal—absolutely not. Confession HAD to be done in person. For that reason, I knew the moment I read this story that it could not be what it purported to be. Wouldn’t expect any of you to remember that story, but the least you could do in Christian charity is ask one of us for clarification. I’ll be happy to give you all the benefit of the doubt that when you first heard it that you were understandably upset by the apparent crass commercialization of the Christian faith and that you envisioned, perhaps, some kind of money for forgiveness scheme. But let that patently false notion die here, or be guilty of a grave sin of slander against your fellow Christians.

"Money for forgiveness scheme"?

[Alex Murphy]

Maybe I’ll forget that there’s any sort of distinction between PCA and OPC. Maybe I’ll just post every idiotic multi-culti obscenity PCA gets into and huff and puff about how “Presbyterians” approve this and that. And then when someone in OPC corrects me, I’ll complain about Presbyterians being inconsistent and all over the map and saying a different thing every day. We can play that game. We’ll murder the truth in the process, but heck, we’ll get in a few good shots at each other right?

Cronos: you have a call from Claud on the white phone in the lobby.

[RnMomof7]

There was a story a few years ago about whether the Sacrament of Confession could be validly administered via the Interwebs.
The answer from Rome was unequivocal—absolutely not. Confession HAD to be done in person. For that reason, I knew the moment I read this story that it could not be what it purported to be.

I always confess my sins in person..right from my home..my mouth to Gods ear :)

[marshmallow]

Therefore, why should any of us listen to a very inconsistent Rome?

But I thought Rome was consistent! Consistently wrong! I've been led to believe all these years that Rome is "all evil....all of the time." [You can use that as a tagline, if you like]. Unless I've missed something in your shtick, Rome can do no right.

How can it be simultaneously consistent and inconsistent?

Perhaps it depends on what day it is and the story one happens to be spinning, eh Doc?

[Claud]

Sorry, is basic Christian charity too much too expect one of the “Elect”?

Ah, the evil overlord fetish. Among a group who couldn’t even subjugate the Swiss.

Tsk tsk.

[Claud]

I always confess my sins in person..right from my home..my mouth to Gods ear :)

And I don't???

[A.A. Cunningham]

I always confess my sins in person..my mouth to Gods ear

As do Catholics. The problem is you lack the ability to absolve yourself of those sins particularly those committed against others.

What type of penance do you assign yourself?

right from my home..

Is that another feature of the dogma of the church of smorgasbord relativism?

"Is any of you sad? Let him pray. Is he cheerful in mind? Let him sing. Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much." James 5:13-16

[Judith Anne]

Freemail in a moment.

[RnMomof7]

As do Catholics. The problem is you lack the ability to absolve yourself of those sins particularly those committed against others. What type of penance do you assign yourself?

Could you show me where the apostles taught the need to do penance ? "Say 2 Hail Marys and 2 Our Fathers.. do you REALLY THING that satisfies the wrath of God??

Is that another feature of the dogma of the church of smorgasbord relativism?

Where does it say in scripture one has to go to church to confess their sin ??

"Is any of you sad? Let him pray. Is he cheerful in mind? Let him sing. Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much." James 5:13-16

So do you confess your sins to other MEMBERS of the church? The scripture does not say confess your sins to a priest does it? Maybe because there were no priests in the NT church..

This admonition is to confess your sins to the one offended..or just in Christian fellowship.. no where does it promote "confession" to a priest..

The early church had a time during the service when people confessed their sins out loud.. I have no problem with that..

But I do not need a priest to hear my sin..I have an advocate with the Father.. I can go directly to the throne of God

[RnMomof7]

Claud , Catholics think they need an intermediary and need to do their penance to be forgiven

[Claud]

You are very mistaken. Venial sins can be forgiven immediately if you ask God for forgiveness. No sacramental confession necessary. A wise idea, but not necessary.

Mortal sins can also be forgiven immediately IF you have perfect contrition for them. Perfect contrition meaning you are sorry for having offended against His Goodness, and are not just sorry because you will be punished justly.

What the Christian is doing by denying *sacramental* Confession and just relying on the above two options is

a) denying themselves the security of knowing they have been reconciled to God and His Church
b) failing to heal the breach that his or her sin has caused within the Body of Christ

A.A. Cunningham explained it well above.

[Campion]

no where does it promote "confession" to a priest

Jesus was just blowing smoke in John 20:23, just having a little fun with us. He didn't actually mean any of that stuff ... right?

Maybe because there were no priests in the NT church..

Did they take the word presbyter out of the Greek text when I wasn't looking?

Say 2 Hail Marys and 2 Our Fathers.. do you REALLY THING that satisfies the wrath of God??

If your kid destroyed something of yours, would you expect him to make some token restitution to show he was serious when he said he was sorry, even if he couldn't pay back the whole thing? Or would you tell him to forget about it and not bother with any character-building nonsense?

[Judith Anne]

Claud , Catholics think they need an intermediary and need to do their penance to be forgiven

Claud, hush up and listen to a REAL CATHOLIC AUTHORITY tell you what you think.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[Cronos]

Claud — don’t feed the troll. Some folks have only hatred against The Church and it’s obvious from their posting history — nothing on any other topic. These folks are trolls.

[Claud]

You’ll forgive me Cronos, but I am very much of the Jesuit school of religious disputation, and I can’t see St. Peter Canisius saying “don’t feed the trolls.”

“With words like these, we don’t cure patients, we make them incurable.” -St. Peter Canisius

Alex is a smart guy and I enjoy debating with him. He frustrates the heck out of me sure, but hey, I need the penance.

[Cronos]

Hey! I was in a Jesuit elementary school and admired their simple lives!