Philippines bans txt confessions

Philippines bans txt confessions

Catholics can no longer confess their sins by text message

Modern technology may be the latest in time-saving efficiency, but when it comes to Catholic confessions nothing can beat face-to-face contact, according to bishops in the Philippines.

The Secretary-General of the country's Catholic Bishops Conference (CBCP) said that confessions sent by text message, email or fax were "unacceptable".

Hernando Coronel told the Philippine Star that while many young people were using electronic communications to confess their sins, priests were prohibited from absolving those sins by a similar return communication.

He said the Catholic Church was unable to allow absolution by electronic messaging because of the issue of confidentiality.

"We have to protect that confidentiality, and we insist on personal confession of the penitent to the priests," Mr Coronel said.

We are encouraging Catholics to confess their sins - but the confession has to be personal

Hernando Coronel

In the forthcoming season of Lent, Mr Coronel said he would be encouraging the faithful to return to the more traditional method of confessing their sins.

"Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, so we are encouraging Catholics to confess their sins - but the confession has to be personal," he said.

"They should go to priests and ask pardon with a contrite heart."

At least 80% of the country's 80 million people are Roman Catholic, but a survey by the CBCP last year showed that less than half of young Catholics go to church to receive the sacraments.