Need to confess your sins? There's an app for that
Image courtesy of Little iApps
Inspired by Pope Benedict XVI’s call for more youth involvement in social communication, developers at Little iApps, LLC have created an iPhone, iPad and iPod touch application to assist with the confession process, reports Catholic News Agency (CNA).
“Confession: A Roman Catholic App,” available for $1.99 on iTunes, is designed to be used in the confessional, according to Little iApps promotional materials. Developer Patrick Leinen said the app gives a “step-by-step” guide to Confession and a “personalized examination of conscience” based on the user’s age, vocation and sex.
According to CNA, “users who have not been to Confession in some time have reported that using the app takes away the ‘intimidation factor’ of going to confess their sins.”
The app received an imprimatur — Latin for “let it be printed” — from Bishop Kevin C. Rhodes of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana. Catholic News Service reported today that Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, clarified that the application may help Catholics prepare but cannot replace “the sacramental encounter between a penitent and a priest.”
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Comments
Bertha Venation
Wed, Feb 9, 2011 : 9:22 p.m.
I'm not Catholic, but this seems like a good idea. The last time I went to church, HOONNNEYYYY the Holy Water Sizzled.
braggslaw
Wed, Feb 9, 2011 : 9:19 p.m.
If I were Catholic I would need three Cray Supercomputers processing in parallel to handle all my confessions.
Bertha Venation
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 : 9 p.m.
AMEN, My Brother!!
say it plain
Wed, Feb 9, 2011 : 6:52 p.m.
I can't even begin to imagine the marketing potential.... People do realize that when you buy an app, you're essentially agreeing to allowing the app-owners and apple too perhaps (do you read all the 'user agreement' stuff we get asked to 'check yes' to before buying the newest soft and hard-ware from these folks?!) making use of your data, right? Like how you use the app, how often, probably lots more data in some cases, maybe even about what else you do with your phone, what other apps you have, what sites you visit perhaps too? So, even if they only collect data in an 'aggregate' way, wouldn't they be able to find ways to sell you exactly what you're confessing about? Create temptation-profles, as it were, now talk about personalised advertising and marketing approach, wow! Maybe this app will be 'good' somehow, not indulge in the prevalent business model, but if not, then it's a very different idea than a priest confessor indeed!