Computer system could help deaf Catholics make confessions

cna ^ | December 20, 2013

[NYer]

Confession. Credit: catholicrelics.co.uk..

Phoenix, Ariz., Dec 20, 2013 / 02:32 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A Phoenix, Ariz., priest has invented a computer system intended to help Catholics who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired to make their confessions.

Father Romuald P. Zantua, the system’s inventor, told CBCP News that his invention will help increase the practice of confessions, especially for deaf people who have limited access to priests who know sign language.

The website for the system, called St. Damien’s Confession Box, says it is primarily aimed at the deaf and those with speech impediments who may not be able to communicate well to the priest hearing their confession.

“Most priests are also not trained or proficient enough in sign language conversation,” the website said.

About 500,000 Americans use sign language as their principal means of communication.

The system runs special software that uses two dedicated, secured computers. All network connectivity options are disabled except for an Ethernet connection, which connects the devices with a network cable.

The penitent and the priest each have their own computer. They communicate through typed messages on a chat program. The messages are erased at the end of each confession.

The system is still awaiting approval from the Holy See. The National Catholic Office for the Deaf and the National Catholic Partnership on Disability have helped assess and revise the system in its development.

Church law recognizes that the deaf may confess through written communication or an approved interpreter, though all confessions must be made in person.

A video presentation for St. Damien’s Confession Box said there will “always be a need” for priests who know American Sign Language, but the system provides an alternative in the absence of such priests.

The system is named for Saint Damien of Molokai, a priest who ministered to Hawaiian lepers and contracted leprosy himself. He was forbidden to leave the island of Molokai and faced great difficulty making his own confession.

The St. Damien’s Confession Box website is http://stdamien.org.

[oh8eleven]

Joe, confession is a profoundly intense and serious exchange between penitent and God Almighty.
Sorry, but you gotta put a priest in the middle of that equation. Rules is rules.

[mlizzy]

Okay, so you site face-to-face with a priest and you both have computers?

[NYer]

Okay, so you site face-to-face with a priest and you both have computers?

Yes! That is the premise behind this particular device. Of course the article does not delve deep enough into costs or availability but, were it available in your parish, would you be drawn to this form of communication as opposed to reading lips or asking the priest to qualify a response by writing it down?

[NYer]

Sorry, but you gotta put a priest in the middle of that equation. Rules is rules.

That is understood.

[oh8eleven]

That is understood.
Thanks to the the Council of Chalcedon (360 AD) no doubt.

[redleghunter]

I wonder how high tech this will be. Perhaps as easy as “press 1 for anger, 2 for....”

[Salvation]

Are you not familiar with the passage in which Jesus confers the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, telling them that what they forgive will be forgiven and what they hold bound will be held bound?

Or did that get left out of your Bible?

[oh8eleven]

Or did that get left out of your Bible?
Well, well, well, it appears you look down your nose for other reasons than just finding the keyboard. And Christians wonder where the "bitter-clinger" thingy comes from. Tsk, tsk.
Allow me to remind you that Jesus was a Jew ... they did not practice confession.

[mlizzy]

If this device requires using the Internet, I suppose I'd rather work from a word processing program, but ultimately prefer the priest briefly write out his suggestions. Many priests, I imagine, aren't "up to speed" with their typing abilities anyway, but most can communicate by written word, and it's a warmer way of receiving help. I know Opus Dei priests will not even do face-to-face, and that was crushing for me originally, as we had an awesome OD confessor for years.

Also there still are plenty of parishes that do not have face-to-face set up. So I needed my husband to "handle" all that (seek out a priest, explain, find a place for Confession, etc.) so it seems maybe parishes could first take care of that stumbling block for the deaf, and then go on to the app, or whatever.

[Campion]

God is self-existent. God had no beginning and will have no end. God is the Creator. Mary is the created

All of this is true, and no Catholic should dispute any part of it. The Church certainly doesn't.

But to deny the title "Mother of God" to Mary can only mean (a) Jesus is not truly God; or (b) Mary is not really Jesus' mother. Either one is Christological heresy, which no orthodox Christian can accept.

[mlizzy]

I should add, that the correct response (by anyone, not just a priest) to anyone deaf (if the two of you don't know sign language), is to grab a pencil (on your own) and sheet of paper, and write out your question, statement, etc.

Interestingly in my deaf "career," only 5-6 people have done this. One was a police offer, which wasn't so surprising, the other, a Comcast guy installing service, and a couple others were swim coaches of my daughter. And one was my incredible neighbor (who I miss so much). Otherwise, ZIP. I've never ONCE had a priest offer to write anything down on paper, for instance. And I'm talking really holy priests as well; they just don't seem to "get" it. So, if anyone wants to be really hip and cool and appreciated, the next time you run into someone deaf, include them by penning your words.

[FourtySeven]

Thanks for the advice. Merry Christmas.

[JoeFromSidney]

Would you really trust a computer program to properly translate (=interpret) your confession into a meaningful experience?

Probably not, but when the only priest available doesn't understand English, I don't know what else to do.