www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Cell Phones In Church

I don't know what's going on lately, but I can't remember the last time I've made it through an entire Divine Liturgy or Mass without hearing a cell phone ringing in church. This is incredibly rude and offensive as it is in an intrusion upon our time with the Saviour. One would think that individuals responsible would simply put there cell phones on vibrating mode, if they absolutely must be contacted during worship. You'd think that after a phone goes off once that that would be it, but no I've heard the same person's phone ring 2 and even 3 times.

Lawrence:

Christ is in our midst!! He is and always will be!!

It's incredible the number of people who now cannot be without their "fix" of conversation with anyone and everyone for even an hour or two. Meaning to give offense, I've asked perfect strangers if they were either a doctor, paramedic, or a funeral director because those are the only people I know who need to be in an ongoing emergency mode.

In Christ,

BOB

I can certainly think of situations in which someone other than physicians, paremedics, and funeral directors are in an "ongoing emergency mode." However, that does not necessitate a situation in which cell phones are disturbing a Church service. When I go to Divine Liturgy or Mass, I both put my cell phone in silent mode and turn it off, and my wife does the same with hers. If I were in a situation where there were a need for me to be able to take a call, I would put the phone in vibrate mode.

On a different, but related note, my wife and I attended a performance of the Houston Symphony Orchestra recently. The orchestra was performing Weber's "Overture to Oberon" and cell phone went off rather loudly. Hans Graf, the conductor, stopped the music, and said, "Turn it off." The audience responded with applause. There's really no reason to show such insensitivity to others who have paid to hear a performance. There's even less justification for allowing this to happen at Church.

Ryan

Fortunately my parish is pretty good about not having their cell phones go off.

A monastic father told me a story recently of how he has heard of cell phones being answered on the communion line!

(Lord have mercy!!)...

I really think that churches and monasteries NEED to have signs upon entering the sanctuaries reminding people to turn their cell phones off.

Alice,

I agree, they signs against cell phones should be in the vestibule right next to the dress code sign.

Alice
I had it happen once during the homily.
I stopped didnt say a word and just stared at the young girl, finally her friend gave her a poke in the side and said, "He's looking at you!"
Stephanos I

There are times when a lay person [ and a cleric ] needs to have their phone switched on .

Mine has not been switched off now since January 2008 and it will not be switched off - it is however switched to silent and vibrate while I am actually in Church .

Yes discretion is called for but let us also have compassion on families of ill people .

Oh dear Anhelyna...I don't think that anyone did not realize that certain people need to have their phones on vibrate for special situations such as illnesses and children...I think that 'vibrate' is basically the same things as having one's phone off...

I don't think that any of us insinuated or meant for the phone to not be on vibrate if necessary...the silence of vibrate and the intrusion of every sort of type of musical ring and song of a mobile phone ringing loudly are entirely different.

My husband usually puts his on vibrate for emergencies and on the rare, rare occassion that it has rung, he simply and very quietly and unintrusively exits the sanctuary to take the call or call it back to see what the matter is.

This is an entirely different etiquette than talking on the phone whilst waiting on the communion line!!! EEK! OR a teenage girl (as in Father Stephanos' post) having her friends call! EEK!

Hope that all is well with you and yours,
Alice

That is very understandable and often I have the emergency phone for the hospital on during Mass but it is silenced.
This girl however was just chatting with another girlfriend as was obvious since you could hear her conversation.
Stephanos I

Fr Stephanos - I agree that sort of use is totally out of order .

Sadly many folk seem to be totally devoid of what could be termed sheer common sense and respect for their surroundings.

I have heard that it is possible to fit some sort of shielding in buildings that would in fact block all signals to Mobile phones . I understand that some parishes are considering this - but signal blocking could well be dangerous.

I dont see any problem with the priest making an announcement before the Liturgy starts to ask people to switch their phone off or if anyone is on Call out to put their phones on silent (vibrate etc). When I was on after hours duty I would make sure I was near a doorway so if the phoned went off I could leave quickly to respond to the call. The way I see it, educating the congregation needs to be pro-active matter and issuing instructions for as long as it takes is a way of getting control of the situation is a good ay to go.

It's funny, because every single young person has a phone nowadays, but when I attend Mass (...oftentimes "suffering through it" would be more accurate a description) at the Catholic Center here at my University, where 90% of the congregation is college-aged, cell phones almost NEVER go off.

I think that young people are so aware of their cell phones that they remember to put them on silent or vibrate, whereas older people sometimes just forget. Maybe that's just my bias, though.

Alexis

Yes we had considered this but #1 I think it also prohibits the use of a wireless microphone and #2 we have so many doctors, nurses, police, fire and medical people who need to be on call.
Stephanos I

I hate to say this but we have been "educating them for well over 8 years and still they do not get it!
I would rather suspect they are brazenly adamant that they will not be told what to do. ( Unfortunately you almost have to enbarass them publicly for them to take notice.) And then they are insulted and offended.
Stephanos I

I agree with Alexis, at school I almost NEVER hear a cell phone go off. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I heard a cell phone go off in church. I think we are more used to turning our phones on manner mode for class so we are more attentive to it when we go into church. I am also lucky enough to live in the same building as my church so I very rarely even need to bring it with me.

-Katie g