Source: Zenit
PARIS, FEB. 26, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The bishops of France are warning the faithful that a private initiative to offer confessions over the phone is not sponsored by the Catholic Church.
Msgr. Bernard Podvin, spokesman of the French bishops' conference, released a statement in which he noted that "With the Lord's Line, Confess Over the Phone" is "not backed in any way by the Catholic Church in France."
The initiative was launched in conjunction with the beginning of Lent, and notes on its Web site that the team is "for the most part Catholic," and that the service is "in agreement with the principles of the Catholic Church."
Two telephone numbers are given for the public to call, with the last four digits of the first one spelling "Dieu", which in French means God.
The calls cost 12 eurocents (16 cents) a minute, or 34 eurocents (46 cents) a minute if you call the first line. The Web site says 40% of the proceeds from the more expensive line will go to charity, without offering more specifics.
In his statement, Msgr. Podvin explained that while a phone service is "necessary and beneficial" -- in particular to alleviate "the loneliness of elderly and people with handicaps" -- the sacrament of confession requires the physical presence of a priest.
Article provided by ZENIT News Agency.