Cell phones at church

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AndrewAxland said:
What business of it is yours? How does it concern you?
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I think its sort of of impolite to be chatting on the phone while in church. It might disturb people who are there to pray.

I wouldn’t tell anyone off about it, but I’d question their upbringing.
 
The OP mentioned texting and web browsing. A phone conversation would be very different.
 
Augustinian said:
I think its sort of of impolite to be chatting on the phone while in church. It might disturb people who are there to pray.
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I’d agree if they were talking on the phone, but discreetly texting is hardly intrusive.
 
Cell phone usage has taken on a life of it’s own. Some consider it rude, others not so much. I’ve recently determined to keep my eyes on myself and not focus on the things people are doing that bug me. It only gets me upset. It’s hard, but it’s possible.
 
Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest | USCCB < Here’s the USCCB’s liturgical reading of the day site. Today is also the feast of St. John Vianney, a patron saint of the sacrament of reconciliation. If THIS is what’s on a neighbor’s cellphone during the the waiting time … that’d seem to be very good.

I also use mine for part of mass. All the readings in one place is actually better than fumbling with the church books, which during daily masses may not even give the readings in their entirety.

Glad the OP brought the subject up. It certainly be counterproductive to use cellphones for more secular stuff … like checking a ball score in church … or something relatively harmless … yet taking ones focus off the spiritual.

And of course, who knows what advertising popup may intrude upon even that. 😵😵

Books of the Bible | USCCB < index to books of the Bible … so far you can go right there without having to endure an ad popup for underwear or laxatives. 🙏
 
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I am of the opinion, when I am in line for confession, I should be worried about my sins, not what the other people in the Church are doing.
 
I think you’re overreacting. I receive several daily devotionals via email, and will often take whatever time I can to read and pray over them - including waiting in a confession line. And if they’re especially relevant, I might smile.

Long story short, you’re judging without being in possession of the facts. Maybe they were reading devotionals. Maybe they were anxious and were texting a friend for support. Maybe they are just trying to make time to attend this beautiful sacrament on an incredibly busy day, and the only way they could do that was to spend their time waiting attending to their other work or responsibilities.

They were there for confession. I think we should just rejoice that they were there.
 
I always turn off my cellphone before going into church, because I don’t want it ringing in church or in the confessional. (I hope the priest has his turned off as well, less my confession be stored in the cloud.)
 
Wouldn’t it be awkward if you were in the same line as the OP?
 
My thoughts are…so what? I presume they’re being quiet. What’s it to you? Maybe they’re looking up their list they made of their sins so they don’t forget?
 
lightacandle said:
Went to confession last weekend. About 15 people in the confession line and 1/3 of them were on their cell phones, browsing and texting. I don’t even know what to say to that. Thoughts???
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I would recommend that nothing be said. Unless they are being disruptive, why?

I do not like how pervasive cell phones have become in society, and I do not like how everyone is always glued to them. Surely they can be put aside for something like confession. And yet, they may become as common as a watch, and maybe the are now more common that watches were. Still, I will try and tolerate that which I do not understand.
 
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lightacandle said:
Why does it bother me? Because confession is a sacrament. And because everywhere I go everybody is glued to their phones. Restaurants, church, Walmart, driving. It’s become a disease in this country. It’s an addiction and it’s become an idol. I’m standing in the confession line trying to think and pray and get prepared for confession and people beside me are playing games on their phones. It’s annoying and I think inappropriate for the situation. But it’s between them and God.
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There are a lot of things that people do that bug me, but all I can do is control my own reaction. Your response has a lot more to do with you than it does with them. And unless you went and looked at each of their phones, you really don’t know what they were doing. I sometimes look at my phone because I have prayers and devotionals saved on it. I also have photos of my favorite saints saved, and I look at those while I’m praying in church. If that bothers you, that’s on you; not me. Why should I change what I’m doing because it somehow bugs you? I’m not asking that to be snarky, I honestly want to know.
 
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I may very well have been one of the ones you saw. I spend my time before confession scrolling through a few examinations of conscience before confession to make sure I make a solid confession.
 
DeniseNY said:
There are a lot of things that people do that bug me, but all I can do is control my own reaction. Your response has a lot more to do with you than it does with them. And unless you went and looked at each of their phones, you really don’t know what they were doing. I sometimes look at my phone because I have prayers and devotionals saved on it. I also have photos of my favorite saints saved, and I look at those while I’m praying in church. If that bothers you, that’s on you; not me. Why should I change what I’m doing because it somehow bugs you? I’m not asking that to be snarky, I honestly want to know.
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I shudder to think what people think of me at adoration. I have an incredibly hard time staying focused, and I often use my phone for scripture reading, prayers that I don’t have memorized, and even some worship music or chant as needed to keep me from rehashing recipes for dinner in my head. We can’t judge what people are doing on their phone and, IMHO, what we project on others is more a reflection of ourselves than them,…
 
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