Privacy Collection Notice
# Via Sanctum Privacy Collection Notice
Last updated: 24 March 2026
Via Sanctum is a Catholic study app with optional, controlled community event features, operated by Tony Kero in New South Wales, Australia.
This notice should be shown at or before account signup.
## Recommended signup notice
Via Sanctum collects your email address, username, password-related account security data, date of birth for age-access checks, selected preset avatar/favourite saint/profile state, app/activity information, optional on-device location data when you use Pilgrim Cards nearby unlock checks or the nearby church finder, and limited device/service identifiers used for account security and abuse prevention to create and secure your account, operate core features, enforce community safety, and support moderation.
In the current release, Via Sanctum maintains a server-backed account record for authentication, email verification, password reset, account recovery, and limited cross-device account/profile/legal sync. That backend record may include your email, username, password hash, password salt, email verification state, session records, preset avatar ID, favourite saint selection, home-tour seen state, age-confirmation metadata, and legal acceptance/version metadata.
In the current release, date of birth entered for age checks is evaluated in-app and is not stored in the backend account record or the local account snapshot. Stored account metadata is limited to the age-confirmation result/timestamps and policy version needed to enforce the under-14 block, 14-17 restricted tier, and 18+ full-access policy.
In the current release, Pilgrim Cards and nearby church discovery use foreground, user-initiated location checks only, are not designed for continuous background tracking, and do not upload location off-device by default.
In the current release, cross-device sync occurs in two paths: the Via Sanctum backend stores server-backed account/profile/legal state, and iCloud sync may cover reading progress, verse notebook content, event state, and moderation state. Full raw DOB, Pilgrim Card visit history, and Pilgrim journal/reflection entries are not synced off-device by default.
Some optional features may invite you to enter faith-related reflections or similar content that may be sensitive information under Australian privacy law. If you choose to enter that content, you consent to Via Sanctum collecting and using it to provide that feature and related safety, moderation, and support handling.
Some information is required to create and secure your account and provide key app features. If you do not provide required information, you may be unable to create an account, verify your email, recover access, or use key features.
Via Sanctum may disclose information to service providers needed to run the app, such as cloud, infrastructure, notification, and email delivery providers.
Some providers may handle information outside Australia, including in the United States and other countries or regions where relevant providers operate, which may include the European Economic Area and Singapore.
Via Sanctum does not collect phone numbers and does not send marketing SMS.
When Via Sanctum Plus is active, Via Sanctum may store a subscription entitlement record received from Apple confirming your active plan, for the purpose of unlocking Plus features. Via Sanctum does not receive or store payment card details — billing is managed entirely by Apple through the App Store.
Current release clarification:
- Via Sanctum requires an authenticated account for app access (no guest mode).
- Via Sanctum does not provide in-app friend discovery, direct messaging, challenge invites, multiplayer or co-op gameplay, event chat, comments, or open public posting feeds.
- The Discover tab remains visible in the app, and the Events section stays disabled until a full-access user enables `Account > Community > Enable Events`.
- Accounts aged 14 to 17 remain in restricted mode and cannot use Events, RSVP tools, or Pilgrim Cards.
- Event listings are approval-based. Verified hosts can submit listings, and listings remain pending until Via Sanctum's internal moderator-admin account reviews them.
- Pilgrim Card visit history is private by default unless you manually choose to share a card.
You can request access, correction, export, or deletion support using the in-app Privacy Request Center or by contacting support@viasanctum.app.
Privacy complaints can be sent to support@viasanctum.app. If unresolved, you may contact the OAIC:
https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-complaints
Before continuing, review:
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Use
- Privacy Collection Notice
## Implementation requirements
- Show this notice before account creation.
- Require acknowledgement before enabling account creation.
- Keep the in-app notice and website legal pages consistent.