Catholic church 'backs confession app'

A Catholic church in the US has reportedly expressed its support for a new iPhone app to help religious followers give confession.

The $1.99 app takes users through the sacrament and its developers claim that it offers a "personalised examination of conscience for each user", Reuters reports.

Patrick Leinen of Indiana-based Little iApps said: "Our desire is to invite Catholics to engage in their faith through digital technology.

"Taking to heart Pope Benedict XVI's message from last year's World Communications Address, our goal with this project is to offer a digital application that is truly 'new media at the service of the word'... We hope many more will take advantage of this new confession resource."

He added that the application had been "approved" by Bishop Kevin Rhoades, of the Diocese of Fort Wayne in Indiana.