So many news outlets have misreported about the new I-Phone app that Vatican spokesman has responded. This, of course, has prompted a whole new wave of media malpractice through mis-reporting.
For days, media outlets have reported that the new confession app for the I-Phone is intended to replace the priest, that you confess to your phone. Of course, that is completely false. The app is intended to draw people back top confession and to help them to prepare properly for the sacrament.
So many media outlets have mis-reported about the intent of the app that Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi, to say it is not a substitute for confession “”One cannot speak in any way of confessing via iPhone”
This, of course, has prompted a whole new wave of flagrant mis-reporting.
The Vatican excommunicates the Confession iPhone App
Vatican bans confessional iPhone app
Vatican criticizes iPhone Confession app
And so on, and so on, and so on.
The creator of the app actually welcomed the Vatican statement.
Patrick Leinen, the developer of an iPhone application designed to help people prepare for the confession, welcomed a reminder by Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi that the sacrament requires oral confession to a priest.
“This app is intended to help a person prepare for the sacrament of confession,” said Leinen. “It is not intended to function as a replacement for confession!”
But you won’t see that reported anywhere.
What other job other than reporter can you stink at so badly and still stay employed? (Besides gov’t employee?)
This media malpractice pure aand simple. The only open question for me, is it intentional?
February 10, 2011 at 1:13 pm
IMHO it's absolutely intentional. The media seems to be targeting our Church with lies, distortions, and exaggerations. The New York Times is just one example – and thankfully, Archbishop Timothy Dolan has been forthright in calling them to task.
If only they would listen.
February 10, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Of course it's intentional.
My suggestion for the next release of this app would be to rename it something that more accurately describes its actual function. Like "iExamen" for instance. Of course then the media would probably be all over THAT for some cockamamie reason, but the deliberate misleading of people who are determined to believe the worst about Catholics in general and the Church as a whole would probably be a lot harder to accomplish.
February 10, 2011 at 3:42 pm
To answer your question about what other job you can stink at so badly and still remain employed, I'll give you two: teacher and catechist. Actually, in the case of a catechist, being a stinker would seem to be a requirement to be employed in some parishes.
February 10, 2011 at 3:54 pm
It's all intentional. The lib media is shot through with bitter ex-Catholics, lapsed Catholics, non-Catholics who hate the Church, etc. It's not even subtle. It makes me laugh.
February 10, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Talking to GOD is the name or title of the appl. All sentences must be phrased in question form so that the individual can respond to God to the church to himself. Who, what, when and why? Do you want understanding of the Ten Commandments? of the Beatitudes? of why people need sacramental confession? to talk to a priest who is alter Christi? are you sure? Has it enriched your life, helped you soul, given you insight, and prepared you for the sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation? How wonderful this appl could be to instruct people in the sacraments, the church and the bible. Rhetorical questions are a magnificent tool. WHO IS LIKE UNTO GOD?
February 10, 2011 at 7:44 pm
The coverage I've seen has been rather well done, other than the attention-getting headlines. Lisa Miller, of all people, was involved in a discussion on NPR this morning, and when asked a question about church and technology, she replied that "church" IS "community", and community cannot be replaced with technology. I was pleasantly surprised. A columnist with our local paper who usually writes snide, liberal trash walked readers through the app, feigned disapointment at the end that he wasn't absolved, and then acknowledged that contrition is meaningless if experienced alone. This app has certainly got people talking and thinking about confession, and that has to be good.
February 10, 2011 at 8:31 pm
It's only helping get our app out even more.
Wait till they see our update and new product description 😀
February 10, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Thanks for posting this. I'm one of the three developers and I figured I should explain why we named it what we did. We initially were going to name the app some sort of clever and witty name (although very cliched): iRepent. In fact when we received our imprimatur it had that name listed on it (we did speak with Msgr. Heintz about the need to change the name and he said it was ok as long as the content didn't change and I told them the new name). Well literally the day before I received the imprimatur in the mail a new sacrilegious app came out with the name iRepent (check it out and you'll agree with me).
We had to come up with a name that is 8 or less characters (because that is what you are limited to to display below the icon). We chose confession because we saw our app as something more than just an examination of conscience. We saw it as a guide to the actual sacrament, one that would walk a penitent through the sacrament. We never expected the mass media to pick up this story and figured that the Catholics who would see it and the Catholic media would understand. We are just shocked at the attention that this has gotten. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to fight what seems to be small but vocal set of anti-catholic media. (as my brother said, we've made an update which will hopefully be approved by Apple soon which should help to clear up some of the unexpected confusion)…
February 11, 2011 at 12:51 am
All this religion confusion these days. I don't know what's real or not. Are people making fun of the religion or are they serious? Some people say the Church's beliefs are satire. How can that be?
February 11, 2011 at 10:42 pm
speaking of confession, have you seen the new Red Bull (energy drink) ad? Pretty offensive to catholics. http://www.redbullusa.com/cs/Satellite/en_US/Music-Entertainment/Video-Gallery/001242811857789
might have to click the arrow to the ad titled "confession"