A mysterious San Antonio 'priest ' is offering to absolve sins digitally - by taking confessions using Snapchat . However , the move has raised eyebrows among the local clergy , who fear the sacrament is being abused on the smartphone app , which deletes pictures and messages seconds after receiving them . Despite @ priestDavid claiming he wants to make confession easier , others see a cynical ploy to get people to admit their failings and mistakes to a complete stranger , who has not proven he is a member of any church or even a priest . Available to hear your confession : Christian priests in San Antonio have warned against young people offering to confess their sins to @ priestDavid . 'It 's not confession . It 's not what the sacrament is all about , ' said local San Antonio priest , the Reverend Tony Vilano to News 4 in San Antonio . 'He 's not a Catholic priest . The church teaches when you go to confession , you should go to a priest either behind a divider or face to face . ' While it is not known what Christian denomination @ priestDavid is , he claims the Snapchat confession is part of a college student 's project he is helping with . He also told News 4 he wants to engage more young people and claims he has been a priest for 23-years . The confessions will be heard for two weeks from March 2 to March 16 . Unethical : Confession as a sacrament is meant to be performed in person to a priest - either divided by a veil or in some cases face-to-face . Traditional : This is the way that confessions have been heard for over a thousand years . 'Doing it Snapchat , I mean , you can do Snapchat or through the internet and list everything you 've done and there 's no humility in there . There 's no ownership of the sins you 've committed , ' said Rev . Vilano to News 4 . Others are more damning of @ priestDavid . Archdiocese of San Antonio Deacon Pat Rodgers vehemntly disagrees with using Snapchat for confessions . He said that in fact the man , if he is a priest , has gone rogue and that confessions must take place face-to-face . News 4 in San Antonio took to the street to ask the public their opinions . 'Ridiculous . Absurd . That 's what the Catholic church is for . Internet is not reality . You want confession , go see a priest , ' said Richard de Leon III to News 4 . In a statement , the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas said : 'The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas recognizes there are various ways churches can reach out to people through social media . However , Episcopalians are not asked to present private confessions to a priest , instead confession is offered in worship , as part of the church 's liturgy . '
San Antonio priest @ priestDavid offering confessions via Snapchat app . Local religious leaders in Texas have warned young people not to use it .