Direct line to God?
The Catholic Church in the US has given its blessing to an iPhone app designed to help busy Catholics confess their sins on the go.
The $1.99 app, which is simply called Confession, is believed to be approved by a Church authority Stateside and takes Catholics though the unfashionable sacrament including what the developer calls a "personalized examination of conscience for each user," Reuters reported.
Patrick Leinen, part of the Indiana-based development team behind the app reportedly said: "Our desire is to invite Catholics to engage in their faith through digital technology. Taking to heart Pope Benedict XVI's message from last years' World Communications Address, our goal with this project is to offer a digital application that is truly 'new media at the service of the word."
The Pope highlighted the importance of a Christian presence in a digital world last month. Leinen apparently said the content of the app was shaped by Reverend Thomas Weinandy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Reverend Dan Scheidt, pastor of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Indiana.
However, it is not intended to replace confession in churches, but reportedly aims to guide Catholics through the act- they still have to go to a priest for absolution.
Leinen reportedly claims that the app has already helped one man return to confession after a 20 year break. "We hope many more will take advantage of this new confession resource," he apparently added.
