Church Approves 'Confession' App for iPhone

[katiebelle08]

**I’m not so sure where everyone is getting their information but when something like this is approved by a bishop or two does not mean that the “Church” approves of it. Truth is the Vatican, as in the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, who speaks for the “Church” in case some have forgotten disproves of the iPhone “Confession App”. **

 

[Dale_M]

I do like how one of the designers read father z’s site and commented on how they are going to change a few things with people’s feedback.

The app was designed by a couple of priests, and they obviously want to do right by it.

 

[baylee]

**I’m not so sure where everyone is getting their information but when something like this is approved by a bishop or two does not mean that the “Church” approves of it. Truth is the Vatican, as in the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, who speaks for the “Church” in case some have forgotten disproves of the iPhone “Confession App”. **

You are correct in stating that two bishops does not the “Church” make; however, do you have a link to the Pope’s comments regarding this matter?

 

[Dale_M]

I’m not so sure where everyone is getting their information but when something like this is approved by a bishop or two does not mean that the “Church” approves of it.

Very true. An imprimatur simply means the bishop allows it as not contrary to the Faith. This is not the same thing as an endorsement, by the bishop or by the Church as a whole.

Truth is the Vatican, as in the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, who speaks for the “Church” in case some have forgotten disproves of the iPhone “Confession App”.

I think you may have read some bad reporting. The secular press is infamous about getting the facts wrong and creating false impressions. We’ve seen some of that misreporting in the initial news about the app, and now we are seeing more of it in the coverage of the Vatican reaction e.g. the Daily Mail saying that the Vatican is banning the app.

I’m not aware of the Pope personally speaking on the issue, but the Vatican’s spokesman gives a couched “okay” to the app:

“It’s essential to understand that the sacrament of penance requires a personal dialogue between the penitent and the confessor, and absolution by the confessor who is present,” Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, told reporters.

“This is something that cannot be replaced by any application. One cannot speak of a ‘confession via iPhone,’” he said.

Father Lombardi said the new application could be useful in helping people make an examination of conscience. In the past, he noted, Catholics would sometimes use written questions and answers to prepare for confession, and that’s something that could be done today with the aid of a digital device.

catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1100527.htm

or

zenit.org/article-31701?l=english

 

[AmyMCGS]

What is wrong with this phone application? A quick read of the article describes it as “personalized examination of conscience for each user.”

It even notes specifically that "the app is not designed to replace going to confession… Catholics still must go to a priest for absolution."

Most, if not all Churches and prayer booklets contain general examinations of conscience to help one prepare for confession. This simply appears to be a digitalized and personalized version.

CatholicCid took the words right out of my mouth. (Emphasis added by me.)

My BlackBerry contains a Bible and I refer to it periodically as I’m out and about. It doesn’t replace my actual Bibles and my reading of them, but it’s nice to have in addition to them. I think this is a similar concept-- reach the people in a media they are most likely to actually use.

I think if they’d rename the app, something more along the lines of Examine of Conscious for Catholics, it would go a long way towards clearing up the misunderstandings.

 

[LittleSoldier]

An iPhone app aimed at helping Catholics through confession and encouraging lapsed followers back to the faith has been sanctioned by the Catholic Church in the United States.

“Confession: A Roman Catholic app” is thought to be the first to be approved by a church authority. It walks Catholics through the sacrament and contains what the company behind the program describes as a “personalized examination of conscience for each user.”

“Our desire is to invite Catholics to engage in their faith through digital technology,” said Patrick Leinen of the three-man company Little iApps, based in South Bend, Indiana.

Read more: foxnews.com/scitech/2011/02/08/church-approves-confession-app-iphone/#ixzz1DTnW58n7

**My list isn’t long enough to use a computer. **

Oh wow. I think you’re joking. If you are, it’s very funny. But I don’t want to put a “big grin” or a “ROFL” without knowing for sure.

 

[LittleSoldier]

Thank you! Its great to have a little clarity for this ridiculous mini-scandal.

In addition, I’ll add that–as anyone knows who has examined the Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat statements–this does not ensure that the ecclesiastical authority personally agrees with or endorses the statements herein, only that they are not in conflict with Church teaching.–which is not too difficult to accomplish.

Thank you!! I didn’t know that. Do you have a good source that explains this?

I’ve always been under the impression that once those two terms are inserted it’s almost like what is written is infallible…

But then I was either poorly catechized or forgot just about everything I ever learned.

 

[CatholicBoy1957]

Thank you!! I didn’t know that. Do you have a good source that explains this?

I’ve always been under the impression that once those two terms are inserted it’s almost like what is written is infallible…

But then I was either poorly catechized or forgot just about everything I ever learned.

My favorite example of this occurred in 1984 when the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ordered Archbishop Gerity to withdraw his Imprimatur from the catechism, “Christ Among Us”, and ordered Paulist Press to remove it from bookshelves.

Do a web search on

“christ among us” imprimatur

to learn more on that.

Oh wow. I think you’re joking. If you are, it’s very funny. But I don’t want to put a “big grin” or a “ROFL” without knowing for sure.

As far as my confession list, I found out already when I was a kid, that the priest doesn’t want to spend a lot of time on one penitent. I now give what I call the “front page headlines”, and try to get out of there before the priest gets upset with me taking too long.

I’ll bet you thought I meant that I don’t sin too much. Actually, I try not to. For my penance, I try often to make people smile.

 

[Dale_M]

I’ve always been under the impression that once those two terms are inserted it’s almost like what is written is infallible…

Yes, I had only a hazy understanding of the terms before coming to CAF. This place is so educational!

Here is what Michelle Arnold, one of Catholic Answer’s staff apologists, wrote:

When a book is submitted to a diocese for the bishop’s approval, it is first read by someone who has been delegated by the bishop for the task. This person reads the material. If it is without theological error, the nihil obstat is granted and the book is passed on to the bishop for approval. The bishop then grants an imprimatur, which is a notice that the diocese is granting its approval for the book to be printed. (Nihil obstat means “no problem” in Latin; imprimatur means “let it be printed.”) If, on the other hand, the book does contain theological error, the reviewer will mark those places that need change; if the writer corrects the errors, the book can then receive the nihil obstat and imprimatur.

The nihil obstat and imprimatur only mean that the book is free of doctrinal error. It does not mean that it is free of non-doctrinal factual error or that the bishop or reviewer agrees with the opinions expressed in the manuscript. Doctrine is unchanging, so notices of freedom from doctrinal error do not “expire.” The notices of doctrinal error are not infallible, however; they are only as reliable as are the doctrinal knowledge and orthodoxy of the person entrusted to grant the nihil obstat.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=10019&highlight=Imprimatur

I think Michelle’s rendering of “nihil obstat” is a little loose. My understanding is that a more literal translation would be “there is no objection.”

A pithy summary can be found in books published in the Archdiocese of New York during the time of Cardinal Spellman:

NIHIL OBSTAT: John A. Goodwine, J.C.D., Censor Librorum

IMPRIMATUR: Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York

The nihil obstat and imprimatur are official declarations that a book
or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is
contained therein that those who have granted the nihil obstat and
imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions or statements expressed.

August 22, 1959

ewtn.com/library/family/famhndbk.txt

 

[stanmaxkolbe]

As far as my confession list, I found out already when I was a kid, that the priest doesn’t want to spend a lot of time on one penitent. I now give what I call the “front page headlines”, and try to get out of there before the priest gets upset with me taking too long.

Our Priest said, “If you do something good, you don’t have to go to Confession.”

It seems people we doing good deeds then going to Confession telling them about it.

 

[didymus]

Question: I don’t have an iPhone (or any cell phone) but I’m wonder if this app stores your responses? Could it be hacked? Yikes!!

For all the fuss almost any good Catholic prayer book will have an examination of conscience or guide to preparing for Confession. Years ago I had a little pamphlet (a folded legal-size sheet) that was very good, they were left in back of the church near the conf . . . reconciliation rooms.

Maybe the developer could offer an option; buy the app or download a .pdf.

 

[LittleSoldier]

My favorite example of this occurred in 1984 when the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ordered Archbishop Gerity to withdraw his Imprimatur from the catechism, “Christ Among Us”, and ordered Paulist Press to remove it from bookshelves.

Do a web search on

“christ among us” imprimatur

to learn more on that.

Thank you again. I’ll check that out.

As far as my confession list, I found out already when I was a kid, that the priest doesn’t want to spend a lot of time on one penitent. I now give what I call the “front page headlines”, and try to get out of there before the priest gets upset with me taking too long.

I’ll bet you thought I meant that I don’t sin too much. Actually, I try not to. For my penance, I try often to make people smile.

I never thought of trying to make people smile as part of my penance. It’s a very good idea. This is a bit weird because I was on the phone with a friend yesterday and we were talking about penance; not what the priest tells us to do, but what we do in addition to that.

I like your idea. It’s a win-win penance. I’m going to do that, also.

Thanks again. (see? you made me smile!)

 

[LittleSoldier]

It seems people we doing good deeds then going to Confession telling them about it.

??? Could you rephrase this? I can’t make sense out of it at all (sorry).

 

[LittleSoldier]

Hmmmm…I guess he can’t rephrase it. That’s kind of weird…

 

[Lost_Sheep]

Now I’ve seen everything.

abcnews.go.com/Technology/confession-app-roman-catholic-church-sanctions-iphone-app/story?id=12866499&page=1

 

[jpjd]

The app is just a digital version of the written examination of conscience used to prepare for confession. It is not a substitute for going to confession person-to-person. m/data/stories/cns/1100527.htmhttp://www.catholicnews.co

 

[Lost_Sheep]

The app is just a digital version of the written examination of conscience used to prepare for confession. It is not a substitute for going to confession person-to-person. catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1100527.htm

Yes, I know it is not a substitute. I’m just sayin’…

 

[Ender]

There is a good review of the app here.

insidecatholic.com/feature/an-iphone-app-to-take-to-confession.html

 

[prodigal-sun]

Now I’ve seen everything.

abcnews.go.com/Technology/confession-app-roman-catholic-church-sanctions-iphone-app/story?id=12866499&page=1

I used to carry a small booklet in my vehicle that I would go through before going to confession. It helped me focus on my Examination of conscience. The book was well used and I was ready to get another one. This App came along at a great time for me. Now I have it on my Iphone, it is even better than the book but does the exact same thing.

Why would you have a problem with this? Do you attend a regular confessional?

Peace!

 

[fieldsparrow]

I downloaded this app. I am not yet able to go to Confession (I don’t think – I am going to ask the RCIA leader this week, but I assume you have to be in the Church to receive absolution). When I can, my parish offers daily Confession, plus on Saturdays, which is great IMO.

Anyway, from that perspective, I find it useful as I do a nightly Examination of Conscience. Even if I have not yet been received by the Church I still want to live a Godly life, and this takes me through things that are not yet ingrained in my head.

Plus I think it will be very useful the first time I do go to make Confession – first, because I will have a long list and it will help me to avoid omission; also, as I use it daily in the meantime, it helps me to remember things I might otherwise forget when I do go.

For the record, I absolutely DO NOT consider that this app is granting me absolution. I think it is more a memory aid. I decided to get it after reading Fr. Z’s review.

The other app I have so far and like is The Holy Rosary, which is a free app and helps me to remember which prayers to say when. Eventually I will have it all memorized (getting there!) but for now I need a little help.