In an article that one might reasonably mistake for being from The Onion, the BBC reports, "Catholic church gives blessing to iPhone app."
The Catholic Church has approved an iPhone app that helps guide worshippers through confession.
The program - called Confession - went on sale last week through iTunes for £1.19 ($1.99).
Described as "the perfect aid for every penitent", it offers users tips and guidelines to help them with the sacrament.
Now senior church officials in America have given it their seal of approval, in what is thought to be a first.
The app takes users through the sacrament - in which Catholics admit their wrongdoings - and allows them to keep track of their sins.
It also allows them to examine their conscience based on personalised factors such as age, sex and marital status - but it is not intended to replace traditional confession entirely.
I think there are lots of reasons why people don't go to confession, but this is not the reason for most Catholics who do not go. I think it's pretentious to suggest that most people don't contemplate the sinfulness of the acts that they confess. While I've never heard of a mass-attending Catholic refer to confession as a "waste of time" I don't see how it would perceived as such merely because the individual thinks that listing a bunch of bad acts was superficial. On the contrary, if the individual gave thought to the superficiality of the act, then rather than not attend confession, wouldn't such a thinking individual seek out the deeper meaning?
Most people don't go to confession because they don't like telling the priest about the bad things they've done; it's uncomfortable from one's first confession to the most recent. Many say that they should go, but never get around to it; many of those make their way at Easter time. Others intent upon avoiding it altogether say that they don’t believe that the priest has the power to forgive sins; that they will be forgiven even without confessing. But a waste of time because it’s superficial? Not buying it.
Keeping count of the number of times I've committed certain sins (which I will not name here) has always been a challenge. Actually, keeping track of how many years it's been since my last confession is becoming a challenge, as well.
Beth: Don't you think that the capacity for mortal sin greatly enlarges itself beyond the third grade?
Will THAT be covered in the app, too?
''It also allows them to examine their conscience based on personalised factors such as age, sex and marital status
So, if you're a 15 yr old boy it will ask you how often you have ''impure thoughts'' and if you are a 72 year old woman, it will ask you....? The checklist technique is more than just a bit shallow on multiple levels.
Instead, it encourages users to understand their actions and then visit their priest for absolution.
So a digital app will encourage users to understand their actions? And the priest's job is then limited to absolution dispenser? No, they won't need more time for ''confessions'' - even less maybe. Maybe they could make it even less meaninful - just provide a URL to link the ''penitent'' with the ''confessor'' and the priest can ''dispense'' absolution - say the magic formula, virtually.
One reason most Catholics decided ''going to confession'' is a waste of time is precisely this mindset - a superficial, 3rd grade level laundry list of ''sins'' with no insight provided by the priest as to the true nature of sin, nor help for the person who thinks the surface sin is ''the sin'' rather than the symptom of ''the sin'' - no help even identifying the true source of the ''nominal'' sins. Just a series of formulaic steps and words - ''Bless me father...'' and ''Te absolvo''
And notice the first person - the emphasis is on the priest. I absolve you..... Not on God, who seems almost to be an afterthought in a way.
My only concern is that there's something about this technology that takes away from the seriousness of the matter at hand. Maybe I'm just showing my age, although I tend to embrace most technology in the workplace and for personal communication.
Take a look at them. I know that it is an examen of conscience but if you didn't feel bad before reading this you most likely would after. The Lord made it a lot easier.Do you love me? No variation ,three times he asked the same question. Would this set of questions make for anything but gloomy ascetics? A genuine question. We are usually well aware of our own failings but His mercy is where we get forgetful.
I will have a go at a new Examen.
Do you Love me?
Do you sometimes forget that I love you?
Do you realize that I love those enemies of yours too?
Have you failed to see the beauty in my Creation and Creatures?
Anne,
I agree with your thoughts on this subject. Here above is an article which gives a very different reading of how we approach the sacraments.
Hope you enjoy it.