Confession and the Internet

[zcharry]

I am not Catholic, but was wondering about what people thought of confessing their sins to a priest on the internet in a live chat scenario.
Do you need to be in person with the priest to have the sacrament?
Could it be on the phone?
Does anyone know of anywhere that does have this?

God Bless

 

[bankerdavid]

I am not Catholic, but was wondering about what people thought of confessing their sins to a priest on the internet in a live chat scenario.
Do you need to be in person with the priest to have the sacrament?
Could it be on the phone?
Does anyone know of anywhere that does have this?

God Bless

It has to be in person, to the best of my knowlege. Traditionally, there is a screen between you and the confessor, but even that is different in some places. I prefer face-to-face, it gives the confessor a chance to see into my eyes.

 

[zcharry]

It has to be in person, to the best of my knowlege. Traditionally, there is a screen between you and the confessor, but even that is different in some places. I prefer face-to-face, it gives the confessor a chance to see into my eyes.

Is this a church requirement of in person or just the only way at present it is done.

 

[Brenda_V]

I am not Catholic, but was wondering about what people thought of confessing their sins to a priest on the internet in a live chat scenario.

This is not very secure and not a good way to confess ones sins. I would be very uncomfortable with this scenario as I would it I were seeking anything but a basic medical care via live chat or e-mail!

Do you need to be in person with the priest to have the sacrament?

Yes

Could it be on the phone?

No.

Does anyone know of anywhere that does have this?

God Bless

As a cradle Catholic who loves the availability of the internet and having done live chats I would never advocate, push for or wish for either Confession via the internet or by phone.

Brenda V.

 

[zcharry]

This is not very secure and not a good way to confess ones sins. I would be very uncomfortable with this scenario as I would it I were seeking anything but a basic medical care via live chat or e-mail!

I understand your views, but would it make it antt less in Gods eyes

Yes
Why?

No.
Why not?

As a cradle Catholic who loves the availability of the internet and having done live chats I would never advocate, push for or wish for either Confession via the internet or by phone.

Brenda V.

 

[Joan_M]

I am not Catholic, but was wondering about what people thought of confessing their sins to a priest on the internet in a live chat scenario.
Do you need to be in person with the priest to have the sacrament?
Could it be on the phone?
Does anyone know of anywhere that does have this?

God Bless

It is not permitted to receive the sacrament of confession otherwise than in person with a priest. It cannot be done over the phone and it cannot be done via the internet.

If you ever find a web-site or chat room that is purporting to do this, know that something is very wrong! How would you be certain that the person who is claiming to be a priest is actually one? It would be foolishness indeed to confess ones sins in that manner. Your sins might well be all over the internet within hours!

The Church, in it’s prudence and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit requires that we confess one-on-one with a priest. The only exception to this is where there is need for an interpreter, and the interpreter is also bound by the seal of confession.

 

[zcharry]

It is not permitted to receive the sacrament of confession otherwise than in person with a priest. It cannot be done over the phone and it cannot be done via the internet.

If you ever find a web-site or chat room that is purporting to do this, know that something is very wrong! How would you be certain that the person who is claiming to be a priest is actually one? It would be foolishness indeed to confess ones sins in that manner. Your sins might well be all over the internet within hours!

The Church, in it’s prudence and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit requires that we confess one-on-one with a priest. The only exception to this is where there is need for an interpreter, and the interpreter is also bound by the seal of confession.

I meant that the Church would set up a web site and you would only go to that site that your Church has approved.
You would know it was a Priest and one from the Catholic faith.
It would be a secure site. Would God care how we confess our sins. He is all knowing. The Bible as far I understand did not set out a standard for confessing other than to confess.

God Bless

God Bless

 

[puzzleannie]

I meant that the Church would set up a web site and you would only go to that site that your Church has approved.
You would know it was a Priest and one from the Catholic faith.
It would be a secure site. Would God care how we confess our sins. He is all knowing. The Bible as far I understand did not set out a standard for confessing other than to confess.

God Bless

God Bless

The bible does not prescribe the manner for confession, Christ gave that authority to the Catholic Church, and the Church says confession must me in person, to a priest, in a setting where confidentiality is absolutely protected.

 

[acadian]

When I returned to the church and confession after several years, I surely did look to see if internet confessions had been approved while I was gone. But they hadn’t.

So I had to swallow my pride and humble myself before a real, live person. Without a doubt, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It was a life-changing moment. A personal encounter with the merciful Jesus through his representative on earth! I don’t think a chat-room confession would have had the same effect.

God has our blue-prints and knows how we work. He knows we need that human touch in confession.

 

[briang72]

I am not Catholic, but was wondering about what people thought of confessing their sins to a priest on the internet in a live chat scenario.
Do you need to be in person with the priest to have the sacrament?
Could it be on the phone?
Does anyone know of anywhere that does have this?

God Bless

One cannot receive the forgiveness of God over wires.

If there is a website that allows you to do this, please log off of it immediately! Go and be in the presence of God, and tell Him your sins with your voice in the presence of the priest, who is His instrument of forgiveness. Express your sorrow and receive absolution.

 

[Seminarian_Matt]

The Catholic Church has condemned Confession through the Internet:

The Pontifical Council on Social Communications on the Church and the Internet published a document in 2002 that says, “virtual reality cannot substitute for the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, nor the sacramental reality of the other sacraments, nor the worship shared in a human community of flesh and bones…Sacraments on the internet do not exist…Even religious experiences that are possible there through the grace of God are insufficient if they are separated from interaction in the real world with other persons of faith.”