One of today's stranger stories of spirituality comes in the form of a group of Catholic programmers trying to keep the faith relevant through the development of a new
iPhone app, designed to allow its Catholic users to confess electronically. Given the green light by Bishop Kevin C. Rhodes of South Bend, Indiana, for the low price of $1.99 you can keep track of when and how you strayed from your 2,000-year-old spiritual road map -- as well as take automated suggestions on what to do for penance.
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| A virtual checklist for holy sacrament. |
What stands out, though, is what this software -- deceptively named "Confession: A Roman Catholic App" -- does not do... Namely, allow the user to officially confess. As CNN reports, the app "is not intended to replace the confessional. Instead, it's designed to complement the act of confession." For two bucks, you'd think at least a voucher good for one free absolution would be standard.
4 comments:
First off, the phrase is "Forgive me Father" not bless me...
Secondly, the application serves as guide before you go to Confession. Churches have paper versions of that app sitting right by confessionals. The app is an examination of conscience for one to think about the things that they had done wrong, and, in the situation of no priest for the sacrament of Confession, to think about ways they can be pious to live a more upright life until they can get to Confession.
I know that this is all laughable to you because you don't believe in anything along those lines, but you shouldn't really complain about something that doesn't affect you in the slightest nor you fully understand.
Thanks for the correction, I changed the title accordingly. We also appreciate the insights into Catholicism.
Actually Sam, you had it right before...that must have been my roommate (he saw me reading your other article and I couldn't help but read more of what you had)Without getting into a bunch of theological mumbo-jumbo: priests have no power to forgive so the phrase is "Bless me, Father for I have sinned"
The rest of what he wrote was right though...as far as what the app does.
See ya in class Tuesday.
I think it's worth pointing out that no one's complaining about that app... That implies a level of concern that few -- if any -- members of our group have for the nuances of any given faith. Confession is personal and, really, neither here nor there. It's the practices that do direct harm or good that we care about. That being said, I beseech Anonymous to lighten up and recognize a bit of humor for what it is.
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