Philadelphia, USA - In a time where you can do almost anything online, is it so surprising you can also confess your sins?
CBS-3's Robin Rieger shows us a local church offering forgiveness by e-mail.
In a scene many Catholics can identify with, Cher's character in the movie Moonstruck goes to confession. It can be uncomfortable.
That's why Father Jim St. George of St. Miriam Church in Manayunk says people don't go to confession as much.
"People are afraid to go to confession, afraid to sit in a confessional or in the same room face to face," said Father Jim. He added, "One person said to me, if there's a way I could write it down and then I started thinking."
His church's Web site now offers online confessions with a form to fill out and some instructions that talks about reading some scripture and about preparation. Then the person can type his or her sins and press send.
Father Jim will then reply.
"I spend a lot of time addressing your individual circumstance, giving you advice and then there's some penance," Father Jim said.
St. Miriam practices all seven sacraments, but is not part of the Roman Catholic Church which has a very different view of the significance and practice of penance.
"The typical place would be the confessional or reconciliation room," said Father Dennis Gill with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
He describes the confessional most Roman Catholics use and says the physical presence of the priest offering forgiveness can't be replace by something that's not human.
"As wonderful as technology might be, as helpful as it is in so many other ways, it doesn't become an instrument for God to speak and act," Father Gill said.
Father Jim says that's up to each person.
"Do you believe that God can forgive your sins, do you believe you need a priest to sit across from?" he asked.
His parishioners opinions vary.
One woman said, "It's not as confrontational and yet it gives you the feeling of being able to be sincerely sorry and have absolution for your sins."
Another parishioner said, "I rather be with someone personally, but that's just me."