Like you stated, the cyber-community isn't exactly a safe-haven to put your most personal thoughts and confessions. However, I would like to commend you for coming on here and explaining the importance of releasing our burdens.

I think the main problem is that most people sin so often and so deeply, that they can't imagine a state of being where confessing releases a small burden so we can be closer to God. I can't move forward with a lie on my heart (unless it's part of an important story I'm telling, then I just forgive myself),...basically confessing keeps my relationships with others pure.

Praise God (and not just because an ordained priest would be an exclusively cool addition to my personal webpage...well, it's a blog, but it has potential!) I'm not just trying to get you to check out my profile. (Okay, I am...feelin' better already!) Any chance you're Catholic?

Hmmm. Cyber confessional, being "saved" in the collective, morality across the net via Boolian commands. Sounds like another way for the Church to dig its sharp claws into the youth of our country and the world. Keyboard priests as peeping-Toms. Advice from old, sex-less celibates and virgins about modern day issues. Imagine the stories and the advice.

Use reason and scientific enlightenment to understand the threat of the Church. By doing so, it's not being a cynic, it's not anger, and it's not bitterness . . . it's intelligence. Not believing the Medieval fairy tales, fables, and myths is smart.

The apogee of hypocracy of the Church. A sin is an act that violates a moral code, usually a devine set of moral directivesor codes of conduct. Now, the Church offers a way to absolve one's "sins." Why doesn't start with it self?

Wasn't the Church responsible for abuse of young children, denying it, and then hiding it? The Church did not fess up until they were investigated, prosecuted, and sued. Imagine what they can do with a Mac?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_sex_abuse_cases

Beware of the fangs of the "Shadowy Monster's" of the Religious right and the Catholic Church. Next thing you know people will confess via text message. Mobile confessions on your cell phone.

As a student of history and comparative religion, I'd say that there's so much wrong with this article that it's hard to know where to begin. So I'll just list the major errors.

1. Confession is not a sacrament to all Christians.

2. Many Christians reject entirely the concept of a priesthood whose job it is to hear the confessions of others.

3. The practice of confession provides spiritual and psychological benefits regardless of the context in which it is done. AA and other 12 Step groups encourage members to use a sponsor, a friend, a counselor or a pastoral helper when doing the 5th Step of confession.

4. One need not believe in a God figure to get spiritual and psychological benefits from confession. See AA, once again, for a model where any power outside of one's own ego can be used as a higher power.

5. The sacramental church has done more to trivialize the act of confession throughout the centuries than any cyber-confessional ever could. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

6. Millions of Buddhists, secular humanists and students of various schools of consciousness demonstrate that it is possible to live a sane and moral life without invoking any conceptual God. This article implies otherwise, That sort of spiritual arrogance has too often led the Church into dark and evil works.

But thanks for sharing, anyway.