Can confession be made online?
The short answer
No. The sacrament of reconciliation cannot be validly received online — nor by mail, telephone, e-mail or any other remote means. It requires a personal, one-to-one encounter with a priest.
Only in person
However convenient technology may be, it cannot carry this sacrament. Confession over the internet, by letter, by phone or by any other channel is not valid.
What is required
The sacrament is received only through personal, face-to-face contact between the penitent and a priest.
Continue exploring
- As a Protestant, may I confess my sins to a priest to stay focused on the Lord?Q&A
- Can priests hear confessions by phone, e-mail or online?Q&A
- What if I forgot to confess a sin and remembered it later?Q&A
- Can I give a priest permission to talk about my confession?Q&A
- Can a priest report a sin not yet committed, to prevent a crime?Q&A
- Can mortal sins be forgiven without confession?Q&A