New iPhone app helps Catholics through confession

Feb. 10, 2011 11:02 AM PT

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Playing with an iPhone in church used to be like napping during a sermon. But now, with a new app, the device could become the “perfect aid for every penitent.”

So says Little iApps. The company recently released Confession: A Roman Catholic App, which walks users through the confession process.

Developer Patrick Leinen worked on the $1.99 app with the Rev. Thomas Weinandy of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Rev. Dan Scheidt, pastor of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Ind.

Bishop Kevin Rhodes of the Fort Wayne, Ind., diocese gave an imprimatur –- essentially an official endorsement. The app is the first to get such a nod from the church, Leinen said.

He said he was inspired by a papal message in January in which the pope asked “that young people may learn to use modern means of social communication for their personal growth and to better prepare themselves to serve society.”

Priest’s ‘sermonettes’ offer daily dose of spirituality through the iPhone

-- Tiffany Hsu [follow]

Technology Blog

Tiffany Hsu

Tiffany Hsu is a former staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she wrote about the California economy, fast food, restaurants, retail and alternative energy for the Business section. A Bay Area native, UC Berkeley graduate and eternal Nor-Cal fan, she once worked for the San Francisco Bay Guardian. She also did a stint at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, where she developed a passion for sweet tea. She still has faith that someday she’ll find two economists who agree.