On the register

your name could be taken off, or the change noted.

Flood of ‘de-baptisms’ worries European church leaders

But how would the Church go about 'kicking out' the Holy Spirit? Baptism is more than the act of receiving someone in the Church. While you can kick them out of the Church, you can't remove an indelible mark caused by an action of God, even if you don't believe in it.

The churches in Europe just need to decide what to do to prevent lawsuits. Obviously they're not losing any members or money as these people aren't active in the church anyway...

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Founded on truth which can't be ignored

but applied with love and charity...

No Communion for Outlaws. But the Pope Is Studying Two Exceptions

"The ban on Eucharistic communion for divorced and remarried Catholics is increasingly contested and disobeyed. Benedict XVI is standing firm. But he is republishing an essay from 1998 that opens two loopholes, the second entrusted to conscience"

Heh. Outlaws. This is what happens when things are translated on the intertubes...

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So few people

take advantage of this wonderful healing sacrament...

Priests moved by ‘lost sacrament’ of confession

I would guess that most who don't have no idea what the sacrament is like today, and are burdened by their old experiences of it. Except the youth, of course, who are likely most affected by the elders who see no need or use for it...

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The film version of the semon and sacrament

The Ash Wednesday Sermon I Would Give

""Moonstruck" gives us a fine introduction to the business of Ash Wednesday."

My only question is, how many people can't spend an extra 10-12 minutes out of their day being nourished by a sermon? Are we all really that rushed, especially on a special and important day like Ash Wednesday?

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Amazing.

And I say that with absolutely no sense of excitement.

A Capuchin friar discusses the app:

Understanding the Confession App for the iPhone

I even have some disagreements with his analysis. He worries that the use of it might be disrespectful and clicking away on it in line might be rude. Well, yes, it would likely be best to use it in your preparations before Confession, and not while you're pubicly waiting in line. That's a problem with people and not the app. As far as being disrespectful in the confessional, honestly, I know of priests who have heard many confessions that were written down on sheets of paper, very detailed and specific, that were almost read as written, and who have said that they were some of the best confessions they had ever heard. Just because a way of listing something is new doesn't make it disrespectful. It all depends on how it is used.

The problem with this app is the imprimatur. If they had just released it quietly there wouldn't be an issue, just as there hasn't been with the other similar apps.

That's it. Unless there's some huge issue that shows up about this thing, I'm done blogging about it. No more wasting electrons on such a small thing...

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Heh...

Bogus Claims About iPhone Confession App
 

"The best we can say about those pitching these bogus claims is that they are clueless. The worst we can say is that they might benefit from purchasing the app and putting it to good use."

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Tempest - meet teapot

When I blogged about this the other day, I didn't think that it would need more than a simple explanation to people, nor did I think it would be misunderstood so that it would have to have official statements made of it.

Catholics cannot confess via iPhone: Vatican

But then, I forgot that, when dealing with announcements to the public, one needs to remember the lowest common denominator, in this case people who don't read the whole article and jump to conclusions, and then things get blown out of proportion, and so on and so on.

This app isn't for 'electronic confession'. It's much like a written script to help one examine their conscience and make a good confession. The 'imprimatur' doesn't state anything other than the app is approved for publishing (or to be released - it is usually applied to written works). This isn't the only app like it, it's simply the first to allow a Church official to review it before release. I have it on my iPod and it looks good. A couple of the others look just as good, some more traditional than others. None-the-less, none are meant as a substitute for the usual form of Reconciliation.

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Anything will likely help

particularly for those who don't participate in the Sacrament very often.

Developers of new app say it could bring Catholics back to confession

Or it might be wishful, technologically speaking, thinking...

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Mea culpa...

What’s Behind the New Interest in Confession?

"Is the present increase in the popularity of the confession of sins a step toward a realistic religiosity, or is it the popularity of the penitential rite of the American Church of Christ without Christ?"

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A good post

from Jimmy Akin...

Post-Confession Feelings

...about confession, guilt and feelings...

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Of course

they're selling the documents (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)...

Following atheist trend, Britons seek 'de-baptism'

They want to renounce their Church. A baptism just 'is'. You can decide to sin so that the effects of your baptism is outweighed by the sin, but that's not what the people are looking for. Ah, well...

Yeah?


Pope, at Sunday audience, encourages regular Confession

Just try to find the priests to hear your confession. My parish is one of the few in our city that still has regular times set for the sacrament, and I know that people come from all over the city to our parish just to have a priest hear their confession. It can't be done if there aren't priests to do it.

An example is one parish in our diocese. Admittedly, it's a large parish, the largest in the city. They have 2 and a half priests - the pastor, the associate pastor and a 'pastor emeritus' who is only part-time. If you read their bulletin you'll find out that Reconciliation is any time by appointment, or check the website or bulletin for times. If you check the website (because, after all, you're already reading the bulletin) you'll find that Reconciliation is any time by appointment, or check the website or bulletin for times. Kind of a circular thing going on there. The point is, with three (or 2 1/2) priests, they still don't have a regular time for Reconciliation. People have to make an appointment. Go into the calendar. First name, last name and phone number too, most likely. Now THAT is going to encourage the use of the sacrament, all right...

The sacrament

of Reconciliation is something quite special to me. Most Catholics I know hate it...

‘You’re A Good Person’ And Other Confession Excuses

A really good confession

about the sacrament...

The Sins and the Fathers

We know

where this one will end up...


Brazilian priests' group seeks end to mandatory celibacy

I...

dunno.

Shoppers keen on mall chapel

I guess any opportunity to receive the sacrament (and they're getting fewer and further between) is a good thing. I think you have to go to the people sometimes and not expect them to come to you...

Personal opinion here

but I think this is a good thing.

Catholic confession making a comeback

So there!

It's a little late

An article over a month old. It's too late for Easter, but I thought I'd blog this anyway as I'm a big fan of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the way God uses it to heal and restore. Besides, people shouldn't just wait until Lent to consider availing themselves of the sacrament.

Three common reasons people avoid confession