ELECTRIC CONFESSION

Last Sunday – before I was so virally interrupted – I mention a 1989 novel of mine titled The Armageddon Crazy in which, under a Fundamentalist Christian theocracy, holograms of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse cause mass panic. The same story also featured electronic confession booths that were supposed to be routed straight to God, but in fact were hooked into the secret police. Seemingly all things predicted must come true these days, as our pal Joly reports…

“Even for the most ardent Catholic, it can sometimes be tricky making the time to confess your sins. So the Church, as part of a new technology-friendly push, has now approved an iPhone app that lets busy Catholics admit their wrongdoings while on the move. Selling for $1.99, "Confession: A Roman Catholic App" was developed as an aid "for those who frequent the sacrament and those who wish to return," according to Little iApps, the firm behind the idea. Its makers insist it is not a replacement for confessing in person with a priest, but instead helps to keep track of all the evil things you have done since the last time you confessed by ticking off some of the most common failings. Deviants get the opportunity to add their own, bespoke, sins as they go.” Click here for more.

Joly also included some apt commentary by Lauren Weinstein…

“With word that the Catholic Church has now endorsed a “confession app for iPhones and related devices, two trains of thought immediately occur to me. First to mind is the potential law enforcement bonanza whenever searching for Catholic criminals, especially in states like California where the California Supreme Court has recently granted authorities access to smartphones and other devices' contents without even needing a search warrant. [Update: February 10, 2011: The Vatican has now effectively banned the app, stating that "under no circumstances is it possible to confess by iPhone." Their full wording suggests that Android and other platforms are also excluded. Priests the world over sigh in relief.]” Click here for more and also apt video clips