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I was just reviewing the CNN site when a video story caught my eye. It was about an independent church that offers confession "online" to any and all. The link to the site is here. [ivescrewedup.com]

Unfortunately because of CNN's copy protection I can not give the link to the video story. I think things have gone too far here.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Evening Father Anthony.

Bless.

That is going to far. What's next, communion via email?

I've heard of some of the non-canonicals ordaining by placing a phone over ones head as the "bishop" (aka "Ma Bell") ordains.

Knowing some of the sites that are out there, they should have a link to the online confessional right on their home page!

All kidding aside, clearly this kind of thing cheapens the personal and doxological character of the confessional experience by making it purely transaction.

"Please deposit your sins here and wait for the prayer of absolution. Thank you."

NO thanks!

Gordo

If only it were so easy!!!!

Here is a question though. Since one can confess sins to one's spiritual father or mother (who need not be a priest) and then simply go to Church to the priest for absolution, then would it be possible to confess one's sins over the phone (not saying that I like the idea by the way), and then go to Church for the absolution?

Joe

Father Anthony:

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Yes, Father, things have gone too far. The mass media loves to attack anything that is sacred. The sacrament of Confession is a sacred sacrament and is not to be taken lightly. We really need to pray for the mass media in this country and in the world. The mass media loves to attack religion, morality, and anything dealing with the sacred.

May the Lord protect us and preserve us in faith!

God Bless,

John Doucette

Archbishop Alypy once made the statement that people may go to confession via the telephone provided they also recieve Holy Communion by phone!While some Orthodox clerics may argue that a phone confession may be OK in an emergency,when one can't to an Orthodox priest,the Archbishop had his reasons for the above statement.It seems that some years ago,certain people in his diocese were confessing to their parish priests and then phoning a certain monastery(in schism now for more than 20 years) to "critique" the advice their priests would give them.Not surprisingly,some of these same people have joined extremist Protestant groups who think that all Orthodox and RC's worship the devil!As one priest told me when I was just starting out,"The purpose of Confession is to confess your sins.If during your confession,the priest gives you some good advice that's just "icing on the cake." I've always tried to convey this message to my flock.

Amen!! Every time I go, I get behind the little lady with the hat who confesses for 30 minutes. And I know all she is saying is stuff like, "I kicked the furniture, I called the cat a name..." etc. Then there is the axe murderer who hasn't confessed in 25 years who stays even longer. How about if I mail the confession?

I find the whole discussion a little beyond my scope of experience. When I go to receive the Sacrament of Confession from my Spiritual Father, the whole process might take 4 or 5 hours, with frank discussion, readings supplied by him, and only finally ending with Absolution.

Alexandr

I'd only go to confession over the phone if I had 'call display.'

My favourite form of "public confession" was done by St. John of Kronstadt.

As the Saint stood with the Chalice in front of his flock, he didn't understand why no one was coming forward. Some whispered that they had not been to confession . . .

So St John simply told them to say their sins out loud and then he would give them absolution!

Alex

Alex,

That sounds a lot like what I've heard was done in the Church in the earliest years.

At least for the sins not considered so grievous that public penance was required. In that case they had to stand in the "penalty box" with the catechumens as penance! Can you imagine that being done these days in North America?

Michael

Simply Null and void on many accounts!
Stephanos I

There was a similar case about 10 years ago (I think the Boston "International Church of Christ" was involved, but I may not remember that right) in which someone who took e-mail "confessions" then posted the full contents of the confession online!

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Western Orthodoxy Blog [westernorthodox.blogspot.com]

There is an "eccentric" bishop in Ireland - this man is quite unconnected with the Catholic Church but obtained a sort of ordination from some sort of schismatic group in Western Europe - who announced that people were welcome to telephone his number, confess their sins to the answering machine, and receive a tape-recorded "absolution" absolutely free of charge. Nobody I know has ever attempted to avail himself of this dubious blessing.

Fr. Serge

Maybe we could have a Confession Forum.