[NYer]

Okay, so you site face-to-face with a priest and you both have computers?

Yes! That is the premise behind this particular device. Of course the article does not delve deep enough into costs or availability but, were it available in your parish, would you be drawn to this form of communication as opposed to reading lips or asking the priest to qualify a response by writing it down?

[mlizzy]

If this device requires using the Internet, I suppose I'd rather work from a word processing program, but ultimately prefer the priest briefly write out his suggestions. Many priests, I imagine, aren't "up to speed" with their typing abilities anyway, but most can communicate by written word, and it's a warmer way of receiving help. I know Opus Dei priests will not even do face-to-face, and that was crushing for me originally, as we had an awesome OD confessor for years.

Also there still are plenty of parishes that do not have face-to-face set up. So I needed my husband to "handle" all that (seek out a priest, explain, find a place for Confession, etc.) so it seems maybe parishes could first take care of that stumbling block for the deaf, and then go on to the app, or whatever.

[mlizzy]

I should add, that the correct response (by anyone, not just a priest) to anyone deaf (if the two of you don't know sign language), is to grab a pencil (on your own) and sheet of paper, and write out your question, statement, etc.

Interestingly in my deaf "career," only 5-6 people have done this. One was a police offer, which wasn't so surprising, the other, a Comcast guy installing service, and a couple others were swim coaches of my daughter. And one was my incredible neighbor (who I miss so much). Otherwise, ZIP. I've never ONCE had a priest offer to write anything down on paper, for instance. And I'm talking really holy priests as well; they just don't seem to "get" it. So, if anyone wants to be really hip and cool and appreciated, the next time you run into someone deaf, include them by penning your words.