Is texting during Mass a sin?

[CatholicFireman]

I’ve had people on the phone in line for confession. Last I check, God is still present in the tabernacle, besides the fact that it’s His house and it’s rude. Period. People are examining their conscience.

 

[acadian]

I have been to Mass where the priest checked the football scores during Mass and announced them. It was the Saints, but still…

And I have been guilty of being distracted by my phone - when my children were smaller. Now I leave it in the car. They can all live without me for an hour.

 

[meltzerboy]

I have been to Mass where the priest checked the football scores during Mass and announced them. It was the Saints, but still…

And I have been guilty of being distracted by my phone - when my children were smaller. Now I leave it in the car. They can all live without me for an hour.

I’m not Catholic (or even Christian) but I think that common sense would dictate that Mass is not the appropriate time or place for texting or checking football scores, and it’s hard to believe that a priest especially would behave that way, unless this is a joke! I agree with the other posters that only in emergency situations, job or family related, should you have the phone on or with you.

 

[LilyM]

I don’t recall “Thou Shalt Not Text” in the ten commandments…

Neither is “thou shalt not do cartwheels up and down the aisle during Mass” or “thou shalt not turn up to church in thy pajamas”.

They don’t need to be.

Common sense and common courtesy should tell you that respect demands appropriate clothing and reasonably serious and focused demeanor. Which means you pay attention to what is going on and don’t get sidetracked by trivialities such as non-urgent texts or sports scores.

 

[Carina20]

I think if it is something so important that you have to check your phone right then, you should leave and go outside or to the lobby to talk or text on your phone. If not, you should turn it off or leave it on silent until you get out of Mass. My teachers in my classroom say the same about their class. If it’s so important you can step out and answer it. If you need to be texting during their class, you can leave. No one is forcing you to come to class so you can show respect to the professor by leaving phones alone. The same rule can apply to church: show respect to the priest, God, and Jesus by eliminating distractions like phones and the like. How would you feel if you were in front of a large group of people telling them something very important that requires their participation and they are on their phones? That would be distracting and just plain rude.

 

[TheMc]

I don’t recall “Thou Shalt Not Text” in the ten commandments…

Wow. That sure added to the debate. </extreme sarcasm>

There’s a lot of things that aren’t in the ten commandments… need I go on?

 

[SecretGarden]

It’s all about manners. If you are used to having it with you, I see no reason why you can’t bring it to mass. I suggest that you turn off the ringer upon entering it and keep it off until mass has ended and you have left the building. As for checking out football scores, I live in Canada so who cares about football. It’s hockey that is an extremely important sport. For example during the 2010 Vancouver, Olympics, flights were delayed due to the final game between Canada and the USA. Only in Canada would flights be delayed because of a hockey game. But seriously the scores can wait. Who knows maybe your prayers might help your team win.