In the Catholic Liverpool of my 1970s childhood, confession was in a cubicle, the priest behind the curtain. No matter if you couldn't think of any sins to confess. Which is probably what put me – and many Catholics of my generation – off.
The sacrament has suffered a sharp decline. But now technology is attempting to spark a revival. Confession: A Roman Catholic App for iPhones and iPads comes complete with the Church's official imprimateur, courtesy of a bishop in Indiana. It starts awkwardly, like all reunions. "When was your last confession?" And even when I'd got through that one (don't ask – secrecy of the confessional), it kept on reminding me why I'd left it for so long.
I was invited to measure myself against the benchmark of the 10 Commandments. Since the Catholicism of my confessional years was hot on sexual misdemeanours, I selected "thou shalt not commit adultery". The comprehensive checklist that came up contained everything from the petty (impure thoughts, masturbation) to what only the Pope today still regards as sinful (contraception and homosexuality). As a handy reminder of the intolerance of the Church, it could hardly be bettered.
But when I selected one, expecting to move on to the final stage of old-style confession, it was absent. No 10 Hail Marys as penance. Belated evidence of a new openness? I fear not. As the designers point out, this app is not a substitute for confession, but a prompt to give the sacrament another try. I can't see many taking up the offer.
