The Sydney Catholic Archdiocese (SCA) has warned its flock off an Apple confession application, saying the app can’t do the work of a human priest.

After news spread yesterday that a single bishop in the American state of Indiana had approved the “Confession: A Roman Catholic App” for Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, a spokesperson from the SCA said the news might lead to confusion.

She said she had looked at the application, because many people had talked about it; but she reiterated the Catholic Church did not approve it as a substitute of confession. She said the application was a like a visual notebook, which contained information and suggestion for self-examination.

“You actually don’t confess into the iPhone, you still need a priest to do this, because confession is a sacrament,” she said.

She added she understood people didn’t want to speak face-to-face with a priest sometimes and – she said – that’s the reason why the SCA has built an online platform and network to attract more faithful, especially among younger generations.

The network, XT3.com offers video, podcasts, a chat room and an “ask a priest” section, where the faithful can count on response seven days a week. Also, she said the SCA had developed its own iPhone and Android applications for the Advent, providing users with a calendar which features dedicated readings and suggestions of reflection for each day. She said work was undergoing in these weeks to release a similar app for the Lent period.

“We have a social network, we have podcasts, chat rooms and a Facebook page,” she said. “If you want to communicate to young people, we have to be aware where they are at and provide the technology as well”.

Asked about what apps the Archdiocese would consider ideal for Catholics, she said people should be advised to choose those that contained solid information and content. “I couldn’t say which are the best, there are certain a lot available. You have to be very sure that the material is well-sourced and accurate, “ she said. “That means it has to come basically from the Church itself or social networks of the Church”.

The app has since earned the disapproval of the Vatican itself, with a spokesperson for the organisation telling the UK’s Daily Mail that a computer application could never replace visiting a priest.

Image credit: notoryczna, royalty free

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1. NightKhaos
   Posted 11/02/2011 at 9:57 am | Permalink | Reply

   Can’t say I’m much surprised by this.

2. Simon Reidy
   Posted 11/02/2011 at 10:51 am | Permalink | Reply

   Damn it! Was so looking forward to confessing all my sins to a virtual priest.

3. Darryl Adams
   Posted 11/02/2011 at 11:13 am | Permalink | Reply

   Well the Catholic Church has issues with the printing press it is still trying to resolve, so it is understandable

4. Ru
   Posted 11/02/2011 at 11:22 am | Permalink | Reply

   As an atheist, I’d say both as just as effective.

   • Simon Reidy
     Posted 11/02/2011 at 11:25 am | Permalink | Reply

     As a fellow atheist I’d have to agree.

     • Ru
       Posted 11/02/2011 at 11:37 am | Permalink | Reply

       Who aint an atheist these days? The notion of some magic sky daddy is just rediculous. Show me a religious person and I’ll show you an idiot. Seriously people, telling all your naughty secrets to a [edited] man in a frock or whispering it to some app on your phone; it’s all the same in my books.

       [Editor's note: Let's keep our descriptive terms regarding priests respectable]

       • Simon Reidy
         Posted 11/02/2011 at 11:43 am | Permalink | Reply

         Amen to that! :)

         As Dawkins says “religion is the root of all evil”

         • NightKhaos
           Posted 11/02/2011 at 11:52 am | Permalink | Reply

           I thought that was money?

           • Simon Reidy
             Posted 11/02/2011 at 11:59 am | Permalink | Reply

             http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Root_of_All_Evil%3F

             I’d argue that religion is far more damaging than money. Although isn’t it funny that all these organised religions are also incredibly wealthy? (The Catholic Church being the wealthiest of them all).

             • PointZeroOne
               Posted 11/02/2011 at 2:35 pm | Permalink | Reply

               Its the love of money that is the root of all evil, there is nothing wrong with money itself

               • AccurateTranslator
                 Posted 11/02/2011 at 4:11 pm | Permalink | Reply

                 Try: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”
                 1 Timothy 6:10 – NIV, ESV, ISV, ASV, ERV, WEB

5. Michael Wyres
   Posted 11/02/2011 at 12:29 pm | Permalink | Reply

   I wonder if the application would crash if a catholic priest were to confess sins into it?

6. Renai LeMay
   Posted 11/02/2011 at 3:23 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Hey everyone,

   let’s keep this thread on topic, please — no speculation on the personal habits of Catholic priests. There are forums on the internet for that, and you all know where to find them ;)

   When Delimiter gets a little larger we’ll be able to weather more things of this nature.

   Cheers,

   Renai