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

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Stylites said:
One inbound phone call is an accident. Repeated inbound calls is rudeness. Even so, being distracted at Mass is a very small cross to bear, and another opportunity for charity.

My parish priest gently exhorts the faithful at the beginning of each Mass to block out all outside anxiety and worry, and leave the outside world with all of its troubles outside, and silence all phones, as we prepare to encounter God in word and sacrament.
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The part I made red - I really liked how this is worded. We have made announcements for a long time at the beginning of Mass “At this time please turn off all cell phones and pagers”, that I think no one “hears” it anymore. I am going to suggest we re-word our announcement to something like what you have said here! Thank you!

FWIW: I leave my cell in the car. That way it will NEVER interrupt the Mass and it is close by if needed for some emergency.
 
Answering a cell phone at Mass is like farting loudly during a formal dinner and enjoying the smell.

If this upsets you, have a nice piece of cake.
 
ROFLOL!!! Yeah! If Judas had had a cell phone instead of dipping the bread in the dish he could have said “Oh, I have to take this, be right back”. And he would have been text messaged by the authorities. Yes, we must be either with with Our Lord or against him. No one who puts his hand to the plow and answers his cell phone first is worthy of the kingdom of God.
 
Chatter163 said:
Theatres and performing arts centers do not jam phones, as this is prohibited by federal law. (Goodness knows that I hear them go off all the time in such places.) Several years ago there was talk that movie theatres might ask to be exempt from the ban, but nothing ever came of that. At the moment, it seems that the federal government allows only itself to jam cell phones.
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Sure they do. You’re naive to think they don’t/ On newer structures there is no need to jam – the shielding is built in and shielding a space is not against the law.
 
Cell phones are the 21st century version of tobacco products. Feeling tense or nervous? Make a call. Feeling conspicuous or embarrassed? Make a call. Bored? Re-read your texts. Don’t know what to do with your hands at a party? Hold your phone.

They have no place in church.

None.
 
Luger said:
Sure they do. You’re naive to think they don’t/ On newer structures there is no need to jam – the shielding is built in and shielding a space is not against the law.
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That is a good solution. It is only active jamming that is prohibited by law.
 
Luger said:
Cell phones are the 21st century version of tobacco products. Feeling tense or nervous? Make a call. Feeling conspicuous or embarrassed? Make a call. Bored? Re-read your texts. Don’t know what to do with your hands at a party? Hold your phone.

They have no place in church.

None.
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Using them during Mass, nope. With the noted exceptions.

I have, however, used mine to help me pray before Mass and after Confession—and I have taken pictures of manger scenes before Mass.
 
Forget the jamming.

Change the behavior.

Nobody farts in church and takes a deep breath. Why should they cell in church and force others to breath in the disruption.

Has anybody actually seen somebody take another’s cell and throw the cell out of the church?
 
pnewton said:
That is a good solution. It is only active jamming that is prohibited by law.
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And no authority is going to cite a church for jamming so long as it does not extend outdoors – not that they would ever know.
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
Using them during Mass, nope. With the noted exceptions.

I have, however, used mine to help me pray before Mass and after Confession—and I have taken pictures of manger scenes before Mass.
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That’s not the ‘using the phone’ I’m talking about.

That’s using the Camera… and using your Prayer Book… and using your Rosary… and pulling up Readings… 🙂

That is NOT ‘Hey, Mike, can you do me a favor and be sure to bring my boots from the back closet?’ chatting.

Actually, ANY talking on the phone is inappropriate, IMO. 😊

I say that it has NO place. What you are doing? Well, I see nothing wrong.👍
 
Churches will not jam cell phones because by law certain professionals must have twenty-four hour, seven day a week contact.

Imagine:
“I’m sorry you went blind because I turned off my telephone and couldn’t provide proper medical assistance you. Oh! my phone wasn’t off, the church jammed the signal.”

“Well I can’t help it that you got a flat on your big rig in the middle of the desert and were waiting for authorization from me your supervisor to take action. And by the way, the church jammed my cell phone.”
 
I agree the use of phones for conversation is rude and should not happen but, I use my Iphone application from DivineOffice.org for my Liturgy of the Hours prayers sometimes before or after daily Mass. We shouldn’t jump to the conclusion that all use of phones are rude.
 
Our recently resigned (thank goodness) director of music and liturgy had his phone out and on facebook CONSTANTLY during Mass…right in front of God (literally) and everybody.

As soon as his flamboyantly fluttering fingers were off the ivories-which wasn’t all that often come to think of it as he seemed to love to hear himself entertain us all-he had the i phone out.

If he had a few extra minutes, like during the homily, he’d walk around and talk and text. UGH! I wanted to have a brandy snifter with a couple bucks in it and a big Liberace candelabra on his piano so bad I couldn’t stand it…but I didn’t.

I agree that we have become addicted to the things…and it’s very narcissistic…like we are SOOOOO very important to keeping the world on it’s axis our every thought should be published in cyber space.
 
As I so delicately stated before, using a cell phone in Church during any public liturgy is like farting in an elevator and saying, “Enjoy the fragrance. It’s me!”

Using a cell phone to pray the liturgy is not the same thing. Perhaps one day all of us may be using our iphones to pray from.
 
PJR is right to be indignant!! For the Director of Music to be doing this indicates either an idadequate understanding of what the Mass is or–even worse—He understands what it is but has elevated his self importance above the Liturgy. The word liturgy means “work of the people” from the Greek Litourgia (roughly transliterated) Something done with complete attention to the object of its doing, e.g. The All Holy Trinity. In the Orthodox Church there is no toleration (and Eastern Catholic as well) of such affronts to the dignity of The Eucharist. “Let us be attentive” is repeated in the Liturgy again and again. When we pray at Mass, we are praying in union with those who have been martyred for Jesus. Oh, they don’t mind if one texts messages. That person must be important as the Pope or something–Oh! wait a minute! Would the Pope text message or use a cell phone? No way, no how…and that shouldn’t have to be explained. Catholics should not have to have these things told to them…it should be second nature. I am afraid that the ministers of music have become performers in many parishes and not leaders of worship. Saint Augustine condemned such ostentation in The confessions. I believe that someone needs to intervene in your parish. The priest perhaps? One can always leave a holy card of the crucified Lord Jesus on The Piano/Organ console with a polite note expressing their feelings that this is wrong and that music leaders should be the ones to set example of reverence and holiness. I would do something! The mega churches have slogans like ‘this aint your grandma’s church’. They got that right. In my grandmother’s church no one would dare wisper or pass notes, and they would not text today. I would add to this, say the rosary daily–and name aloud the intentions of Our Lady of Fatima as your offering, and make this musician a regular mention in your prayers. God has shown you someone who needs his help. Follow Jesus and speak the truth in love.
Sincerely,
JT
 
atassina said:
Churches will not jam cell phones because by law certain professionals must have twenty-four hour, seven day a week contact.

Imagine:
“I’m sorry you went blind because I turned off my telephone and couldn’t provide proper medical assistance you. Oh! my phone wasn’t off, the church jammed the signal.”

“Well I can’t help it that you got a flat on your big rig in the middle of the desert and were waiting for authorization from me your supervisor to take action. And by the way, the church jammed my cell phone.”
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A man had a heart attack last Sunday morning at my church. 😦 The “doctors in the house” quietly went to his aid. A few guys went outside to call 911 and signal the paramedics.

One of the paramedics stepped outside to use his radio in deference of the Mass.

Had our parish been jammed (I hope to do that one day) or LEGALLY shielded it wouldn’t have made a bit of difference in this emergency.
 
We don’t need to jam cellular reception for the same reason we don’t need to post signs stating that they shouldn’t jump rope up to receive communion. We need to cultivate an atmosphere of reverence, awe, worship. This will take care of all problems.

I am the usher captain and have called 911 twice. I went out to the car an got my cell phone.
 
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