e-confession

[lewevanhoop]

I was surfing around in Yahoo Groups and found a group called Confessional which proported to be a place to receive a valid absolution am i correct in my thinking that this would in no way be valid?

 

[Church_Militant]

You’re absolutely correct. Moreover, what person in his right mind would ever trust confessing their mortal sins over the internet? So much for the seal of confession. Yahoo is about worthless I have found.

 

[followingtheway]

Uh-uh-uh :tsktsk: No-no-no. :dts: It’s just wrong on so many levels. It’s not valid. And plus, if you wouldn’t ask someone out online, why confess your mortal sins online?

 

[valentino]

No.You have to personally confess to a priest to recieve absolution.

 

[Newsy]

This could revolutionize confession, next we can work out a way to attend Mass online and totally avoid any contact with the Church. I can see it now, never attending church and still growing closer to Christ. Alright, enough of these stupid ideas. I think there are enough people avoiding church without encouraging this behavior. There are some who will mistakenly think this is legit and use it, another attempt to lead some of the flock astray. Sad indeed.

 

[Tiberius1701]

So much for the seal of confession.

Yeah, since it’s a Yahoo Group, anyone subscribed to that group would recieve everyone else’s confession directly to their inbox. The “seal” of the confessional would essentially be reversed to the point of becomming a guarantee that everything you confessed there would be told to dozens of people (assuming it ever became popular enough to attracted dozens of subscribers, of course)… That’s got to be someone’s lame idea of a practical joke, probably as a ploy to humiliate niave Catholics.

 

[smichhertz]

I was surfing around in Yahoo Groups and found a group called Confessional which proported to be a place to receive a valid absolution am i correct in my thinking that this would in no way be valid?

Welcome to CAF! I hope you have a positive experience on these forums and that it aids you in your spiritual journey.

The above posters covered it pretty well, but yes your thinking is correct. That would would not be a valid confession. That’s not to say you couldn’t communicate with a priest online or get spiritual advice for a sin you were struggling with. But that would not count as a valid confession and you would still need to go to confession in person.

Hope that helps!

 

[lewevanhoop]

thank you all for confirming my thinking and as a warning to anyone who dose think that is a valid confession i posted a warning on the list.

 

[smichhertz]

thank you all for confirming my thinking and as a warning to anyone who dose think that is a valid confession i posted a warning on the list.

You’re welcome! That’s a great idea to post a warning, that way everyone is perfectly aware.

Feel free to post anytime you have a question!

 

[puzzleannie]

I was surfing around in Yahoo Groups and found a group called Confessional which proported to be a place to receive a valid absolution am i correct in my thinking that this would in no way be valid?

correct there is no way except confession in person to a priest that we are guaranteed absolution, except in cases (very limited) where general absolution is permitted, and that applies only to those present ion person and repentent for their sins.

there is a new app to prepare for confession which leads you through an examination of conscience, which I have not seen because apps are not in my world view yet.

 

[lewevanhoop]

If i had a smart phone i would definately use that. I know i really need to do a more in depth examination of conscience before entering the confessional.

 

[Dale_M]

there is a new app to prepare for confession which leads you through an examination of conscience, which I have not seen because apps are not in my world view yet.

Yes, and as I recall one of the points made to correct the initial mis-reporting by the news media is that the app does not provide a means of confession or absolution. Electronic means, including email, are not acceptable for the sacrament of Reconciliation.