The use of phones in the church, between Masses and during Mass

[Apryl]

I would love to use the GIRM when addressing concerns since there are so many questions that are arising that are new. In particular, the use of telephones.

A few years ago, when visiting another church, between Masses, there were some ‘workmen’ in the church. One of them stood at the side altar and made his telephone call. This made me cringe, but as I was visiting, I didn’t even ask him to leave. It turns out he was the Celebrant for the Mass I was attending.

At my own church, there have been people, usually teens, but some adults, who have come into the church while talking on the phone. I will go to them and say, ‘please take your call out of the church’. They seem surprised - when could you ever do things like this before?

So many people don’t seem to get the idea that while in Protestant Churches, when their Service ends, the buiding is just a building with walls and a ceiling. For Catholics, our Mass ends, the church is stil a church because we maintain the Body and Blood of Christ in the Tabernacle.

Still, I have seen people walk through the church in conversations. Usually it’s just between Masses, but sometimes, people get a call during Mass, and they take it, too, even though they are asked before Masses to turn their phones off.

I would like to be able to point at what I’m talking about, using either the GIRM or the CCC, and show that the use of phones shouldn’t happen IN the church.

The reason I want to find this is I’m not talking to visitors or casual participants in our Masses, but to Ushers, to people working with the kids, etc.

The feeling of pushing a boulder up a hill with a spoon is pretty intimidating.

 

[baltobetsy]

The GIRM gives the instructions for the celebration of Mass. The CCC tells us the truths of our faith. Common sense and good manners don’t fall under either category. These are properly addressed by parents and etiquette experts. Unfortunately, technology has run so far ahead of us that we have been caught unprepared to deal with it.

A few years ago, I was at Mass, and a man nearby answered a call on his cell phone. My companion frowned and said, “He’d better be waiting for a kidney!”

Betsy

 

[Barb3]

I would hope that the only reason someone would leave their cell phone on during Mass would be in case of an emergency. Years ago when my husband was very sick and I had to have 24-hour a day help for him, I would leave my cell phone on when I went to Mass and told the lady who took care of him ONLY to phone me if there was an emergency. Usually at our Church the priest asks the people to turn off their cell phones but unfortunately some people are not too polite and seem to thrive talking on their cell phones. Sometimes I wonder what these people did before they had cell phones – I can’t believe the number of people I see talking ALL the time on them.

 

[kimmielittle]

I rate ignorant telephone use right up with poor table manners

BUT phone use during Mass is as rude as you can get IMHO

I dono

 

[ProVobis]

I would hope that the only reason someone would leave their cell phone on during Mass would be in case of an emergency. Years ago when my husband was very sick and I had to have 24-hour a day help for him, I would leave my cell phone on when I went to Mass and told the lady who took care of him ONLY to phone me if there was an emergency. Usually at our Church the priest asks the people to turn off their cell phones but unfortunately some people are not too polite and seem to thrive talking on their cell phones. Sometimes I wonder what these people did before they had cell phones – I can’t believe the number of people I see talking ALL the time on them.

You’re right about that. But seeing what passes for “emergency” these days, we shouldn’t be surprised.

 

[choy]

people who are expecting emergency calls (doctors, nurses, police, firemen, etc.) should put their phones on vibrate and sit close to the exit so the can step out if they need to take a call.

 

[Beachcomber]

people who are expecting emergency calls (doctors, nurses, police, firemen, etc.) should put their phones on vibrate and sit close to the exit so the can step out if they need to take a call.

That’s good manners and common sense–two things that are in short supply these days.

Even though they make announcements about turning off one’s phone, the dang things are always ringing during Mass. Really rude.

 

[Luger]

The use of cell phones is already so destructive to today’s society that I honestly believe they should be banned at all times inside of Catholic parishes. Once in a while I will leave a historical tour at my parish. If one of the visitors should receive a call they are very embarrassed and quickly silence the phone.

On the other hand others seem to make junk phone calls simply because their cell phones have become their pacifiers and they feel lost without them.

 

[choy]

i wouldn’t say outright ban them. there are people who justifiably need them. i wouldn’t want to be in the ER bleeding to death and the doctor can’t be reached because he or she is attending Mass.

 

[Apryl]

I rate ignorant telephone use right up with poor table manners

BUT phone use during Mass is as rude as you can get IMHO

I dono

“But I had to tell them that I couldn’t talk to any one”

“That was my MOTHER on the phone”

“It’s between Masses, so it’s not ‘church’ any more”

 

[Chatter163]

On the other hand others seem to make junk phone calls simply because their cell phones have become their pacifiers and they feel lost without them.

A priest friend of mine says that cell phones have become the modern cigarettes.

 

[Apryl]

people who are expecting emergency calls (doctors, nurses, police, firemen, etc.) should put their phones on vibrate and sit close to the exit so the can step out if they need to take a call.

I’d bet you “dollars to donuts” that they do! Have you ever seen an ‘emergency call’ that’s actually for these people? Every church I’ve been in, Catholic or Protestant, with a doctor, nurse, etc that had to take a call, you never even got to notice if they were taking the call. They left out, discretely, and did what needed to be done

 

[RWJ]

I believe people who do this betray a fundamental unawareness of just what is happening in the Mass. How an adult Catholic can be present during the meeting of heaven & earth in the Eucharist - & then tell our sacramentally present Lord “oh, wait, I gotta get this call” - is simply beyond me.

I fear it is more a matter of spiritual insensitivity than one of ignorance, rudeness, and bad manners.

By the way: I love Betsy’s “kidney” comment.

 

[Apryl]

I believe people who do this betray a fundamental unawareness of just what is happening in the Mass. How an adult Catholic can be present during the meeting of heaven & earth in the Eucharist - & then tell our sacramentally present Lord “oh, wait, I gotta get this call” - is simply beyond me.

I fear it is more a matter of spiritual insensitivity than one of ignorance, rudeness, and bad manners.

By the way: I love Betsy’s “kidney” comment.

… and between Masses? Do you agree that phones should not be used in a Catholic Church between Masses? How do you convey this to adults who ‘know everything’?

 

[choy]

I believe people who do this betray a fundamental unawareness of just what is happening in the Mass. How an adult Catholic can be present during the meeting of heaven & earth in the Eucharist - & then tell our sacramentally present Lord “oh, wait, I gotta get this call” - is simply beyond me.

I fear it is more a matter of spiritual insensitivity than one of ignorance, rudeness, and bad manners.

By the way: I love Betsy’s “kidney” comment.

again, don’t generalize. because some people rightfully has a duty to society that God wold approve of. God would know our reasons. let us make sure when we pick up that call during Mass, its rightfully justified

 

[Luger]

i wouldn’t say outright ban them. there are people who justifiably need them. i wouldn’t want to be in the ER bleeding to death and the doctor can’t be reached because he or she is attending Mass.

No ER would be sans doctor – else it would not be an ER.

If I was a pastor, I would put a jamming system in like they do in theaters and performing arts centers.

 

[Luger]

I think if people were REALLY concerned about actual emergencies (and not showboating) they would sit near an exit and leave their phones on vibrate. Done deal.

 

[choy]

No ER would be sans doctor – else it would not be an ER.

If I was a pastor, I would put a jamming system in like they do in theaters and performing arts centers.

what if the doctor you need is a specialist

ER doctors aren’t specialists. specialists would need to be called up. whats in the ER are general practitioners. you’re not going to pay specialists to lounge around the ER waiting for “what-ifs”, they cost too much money. there are times that the specialist may be in the hospital already (rounds, another emergency, etc) but they won’t be there if there isn’t a need to be

 

[jmcrae]

… and between Masses? Do you agree that phones should not be used in a Catholic Church between Masses? How do you convey this to adults who ‘know everything’?

They should not even be in the Church, except to pray. They can go out into the social hall to make their phone calls. There is a reason that the land line is installed next to the kitchen, and not next to the Altar - because talking on the phone is something we do as a social activity; it is not a worship activity.

 

[Luger]

I’d bet you “dollars to donuts” that they do! Have you ever seen an ‘emergency call’ that’s actually for these people? Every church I’ve been in, Catholic or Protestant, with a doctor, nurse, etc that had to take a call, you never even got to notice if they were taking the call. They left out, discretely, and did what needed to be done