Vatican Voices Disapproval for Confession iPhone App

[lostzombies.com]

The app probably won't molest children...so I'm going to give it a thumbs up.

Not sure why anyone would pay money for it though.

....the app that is..not the...you know....touching.

--------------

I wonder if this app was actually made by a police force, would be a sweet way to gather info/tip offs

 

[bushwhacker2k]

Heh, they're just worried it'll put priests out of jobs. On topic, doesn't sound like that bad an idea. I don't believe in this personally; but it'd be much easier to confess online that to a person, I think.

I'm not a very religious person, in fact I'm closer to the other side of spectrum, but I think you're mistaken if you think of being a priest as a job.

It may be easier to confess quickly, but will it have the same impact? Probably not, I doubt this'll roll.

 

[spartan231490]

So because the Vatican says it's no replacement, that makes it fact?

That's because in the Catholic Church, a priest has to dispense absolution from your sins and give you a penance in order for it to be a true reconciliation. An iPhone app can't do that. So while this may not actually be meant to take the place of the sacrament of reconciliation, it could confuse many Catholics into thinking it's a valid substitute when it's really not. That's the problem with it.

Only a true Frangulagilist can dispense Silappuputum upon the erignum of the people. An iPhone cannot do that.


It's a silly rite and practice that does nothing whatsoever. The iPhone does just as much good in my opinion.

That's why your not catholic. The fact is, that catholics believe in the rite, and all of it's accompanied rules. Their belief in it, gives the rite power, and they believe in doing it the right way. Truth is irrelevant when it is unknowable, therefore the perception is all that holds power. I now understand the opposition.

That guy admits to being a vocal anti-thiest, don't expect him to buy "they believe in X".

to put it bluntly, if he doesn't believe it,(for that reason) he's an idiot. Just because he doesn't believe in god/the afterlife ect., doesn't mean that others can't, and there is ample evidence in our world that perception is often more powerful than truth.

According to the average anti-theist (not an atheist, mind you), all religion should die, so I imagine he'll take less than kindly to that.

(As a Christian, I've learned how to duck and cover from anti-theists. Infuriating, but there's no way to win.)

Truth is truth, refusal to accept it is idiotic. "Willingly turning aside from the truth is treason to oneself."

I'm confused... what "truths" are you talking about?
also I thought you said truths were irrelevent... "Truth is irrelevant when it is unknowable, therefore the perception is all that holds power."
And there's plenty of reasons to turn away from God, the fact that there is no evidence to support it is one, and the fact that there is evidence to several theories that go against a lot of what some religions say is another.
Also, when did someone have to tell you why they don't believe? I don't have to justify why I don't believe in fairies or unicorns. You should be the one justifying why you believe in something without evidence. (Whoo! Antitheism!)

I'm not arguing against anyone's religious choices. I'm saying that because you can neither prove nor disprove the existance of god, then whether or not he does exist is irrelevant to this issue, it is whether people believe in him or not that is important. The "Truth" I was talking about is that perception can often be more important than reality.
I'm sorry if anyone thought I was opposing any religion, I wasn't. I was saying that the fact that the catholics believe in their religion gives their religion power over them, whether or not anything they believe is actually true is irrelevant to that reality(which is the truth I was talking about). Because their religion has power over them, the tiny little seemingly arbitrary rules will matter to catholics.

 

[wammnebu]

So because the Vatican says it's no replacement, that makes it fact?

in a religion that holds the Vatican as Christ's spokesman, and "whatever is bound on earth is bound in heaven" then yes

im not trying to get into a debate on whether the pope is responsible over your soul, or faith whatsoever, but its his job to keep the church, and if your catholic, then you play according to the catholic rulebook

its a catholic sacrament, you aren't going to say that's not in the pope's jurisdiction?

 

[Jodah]

My interpretation of this app is that its a notepad of what sins you need to confess. That is likely an oversimplification but it seems like something that is meant to help a Catholic in their confession (and other sacraments) not something meant to replace a priest.

 

[Uber Waddles]

The problem with confessionals is that they are peer to peer, and Id imagine between people who know eachother.

If its something the person doesnt want getting out, they wont confess.

I got nothing against Catholics, but when your crowd is leaving, you have to pull them back in. It seems to me like a modern approach to church would HELP it more than it would hurt it. But thats just me.

Point is: your gonna have a hard time keeping people if you refuse to evolve with times. I dont see why an iPhone App telling you what you need to do for penance is bad, but hey. Whatever.

 

[Freethinker101]

Well, after reading it seems to be most think its a bad idea, I am atheist,but I can see why Catholic's feel this is a disgrace, the pope did admit he knew about the molestations in their churches. So I'll let you think, would you want to go to a church that might have molesting priests, or would you prefer an app to tell you of what your sins amount to... It might not be the same, I don't know, still you decide.
Just remember this, there is no such thing as an important person.

 

[stabnex]

You don't %#(! with the Vaticans money stacks. They'll start a war.

 

[BabyRaptor]

So glad I can talk straight to my deity if I feel I've done something worth confessing. And She's nice about it, too...None of that "Do everything I say exactly as I say it or suffer in magma for all eternity."

 

[dashiz94]

Despite my complete apathy towards religion, I actually see where the Vatican is coming from with this. I've always thought the interaction between a person and priest to be a huge healing factor in addressing one's sins, so staring at an iPhone screen just doesn't cut it.

 

[Plurralbles]

Need a priest? There's an app for that.

 

[Can't CatchMe Coyote]

Need a priest? There's an app for that.

All you need is an iTouch. Lulz.

 

[Wintermoot]

atleast a iPhone can keep his hands too himself
still, the whole idea of confessing to a iPhone sounds kinda weird.

 

[SGDeath2]

Im not going to lie, i find this hilarious on so many levels. People will rather talk to their phone than a priest to save their souls if thats what they truly believe. Of course im atheist but some reason i dont believe that works

 

[ChristovR]

So because the Vatican says it's no replacement, that makes it fact?

That's because in the Catholic Church, a priest has to dispense absolution from your sins and give you a penance in order for it to be a true reconciliation. An iPhone app can't do that. So while this may not actually be meant to take the place of the sacrament of reconciliation, it could confuse many Catholics into thinking it's a valid substitute when it's really not. That's the problem with it.

Only a true Frangulagilist can dispense Silappuputum upon the erignum of the people. An iPhone cannot do that.


It's a silly rite and practice that does nothing whatsoever. The iPhone does just as much good in my opinion.

That's why your not catholic. The fact is, that catholics believe in the rite, and all of it's accompanied rules. Their belief in it, gives the rite power, and they believe in doing it the right way. Truth is irrelevant when it is unknowable, therefore the perception is all that holds power. I now understand the opposition.

That guy admits to being a vocal anti-thiest, don't expect him to buy "they believe in X".

to put it bluntly, if he doesn't believe it,(for that reason) he's an idiot. Just because he doesn't believe in god/the afterlife ect., doesn't mean that others can't, and there is ample evidence in our world that perception is often more powerful than truth.

According to the average anti-theist (not an atheist, mind you), all religion should die, so I imagine he'll take less than kindly to that.

(As a Christian, I've learned how to duck and cover from anti-theists. Infuriating, but there's no way to win.)

/amusement. Well that's some fun shorthand for intellectual cowardice. Why critically engage with arguments when we can stick our fingers in our ears and go "LA DA LA DEE LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" ?

I think you've missed the point of what was being said. Anti-theists already have their minds made up, and in hostile ways to those who do believe. There is little point arguing with them as the arguments fall on deaf ears. They are just as closed minded as the opposite end of the spectrum - the fanatic. There is no critical engagement to those who delude, distort, and delete anything that's presented to them.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Okay, so we already raise families online, start, continue, and end relationships online, talk with friends online, talk with people we would never even think about in real life online, and now we can confess our sins online. The words, the do fail me. "Pitiful" is the best I can come up with. Seriously, I think people would prefer to be able to download their entire being into the internet and simply let their body rot.

I personally think that the Pope is right in this case.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

In Soviet Russia, you touch confession! oh wait...

 

[CommanderKirov]

Catholics will not use the app because vatican said no.
It will now be only used for amusement.

Also as a catholic i find the idea slightly silly at best. Why im the world would anyone want their absolution to come from their iPhone, the damn thing drives me mad even now when im writing this

 

[Dooly95]

Reading this thread; the app isn't supposed to replace the Rite of Reconciliation, it's more or less supposed to be a checklist, or a monthly calendar reminding you to go to confession. The Vatican has not condemned the app, it more or less reminds you that it isn't supposed to replace a priest's confession.

So; the news article is wrong, and I have no problems if what I said above is true.

Not that I care, mind, but you know, typing out "hai i just comitted murdr" and being forgiven for everything kinda takes away the purpose of reconciliation.