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Endless bell-ringing ends with bishop's conviction

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Tue, 03 Nov 2009 4:00p.m.

By Dan Satherley

A bishop whose church played recordings of bells every half-hour, every day of the week has been convicted of disturbing the peace after neighbours complained.

Bishop Rick Painter of the newly-opened Cathedral of Christ the King in Phoenix, Arizona has appealed the conviction, saying the court's decision to silence the bells - outside of Sundays - is a breach of his constitutional rights.

"God is not just God on Sundays," Bishop Painter told ABC News.

But neighbours are breathing a sigh of relief, saying the bells would start as early as 6am some days. Al Brooks told ABC News: "I can't imagine that God in heaven would look down and say that's a good thing to do to your neighbours."

Bishop Painter says if his appeal is successful, he will be turning the bells back on.

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Comments

05 Nov 2009 06:29a.m.

Barbara wrote:

The bells are supposed to be rung at certain times of the day. So many minutes before each mass and at noon for the Angelius. The church I attend does not ring the bells at 6 am.

05 Nov 2009 05:32a.m.

Facts Are Fun wrote:

Hey Paula, take a look at this: http://ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/viort.htm That's right, violence has been decreasing over the last 40 years and is at its lowest levels ever. That's the *exact opposite* of what you claim. Makes you think, doesn't it (well, maybe it doesn't make *you* think).

05 Nov 2009 03:53a.m.

IronOre wrote:

SoupGoblin: Your "well known fact" is a biased opinion for which you have no proof. Indeed, I can say as someone who lives in a "bad neighborhood" they could definitely use the example of Christ. Prostitutes on the corners, just a block away from the Church bells ringing. People have no conscience. The Catholic Church in this area was built in 1910, well before much of this neighborhood fell to pieces.

05 Nov 2009 02:04a.m.

Jim Grisham wrote:

Has anyone considered appealing to the USCCB and suggested that this "bishop" may need a psychiatric exam, or at least a memory jog for the definition of Christian charity? Even the Muslims in my area of the country (Dearborn, MI) only announce the prayer call 5 times per day and that is a reasonable practice of their freedom of religion. Thank God I don't live in that diocese. I'd be irate.

04 Nov 2009 07:16p.m.

Robert Bagley wrote:

When did bells become a part of christianity, you'll find no record of bells being a part of worship in the scriptures, or of the apostalic church using them. It was after the death of the apostles that the new clergy took to ringing bells to call worshipers to come to them, unlike the apostles calling personally on worshipers in their homes

04 Nov 2009 06:51p.m.

Sam wrote:

This seems odd to me; where I live there's a Catholic church that rings every quarter hour, and no one complains. Or if they do, I haven't heard. Perhaps the fact that it's just a recording has something to do with it.

04 Nov 2009 06:33p.m.

PaperMoon wrote:

I wonder why he would want to do that? That's not something God would do, all that does is annoy and anger people. There is no reason in the world for them to ring the bell every half hour like that. Especially starting so early at 6am, some people work the night shift and are just getting home and ready for bed at 6am.

04 Nov 2009 06:00p.m.

Ryan wrote:

Eric "@ Paula: "...the violence that plaques our nation." ...omg haha" Learn to form a complete sentence.

04 Nov 2009 03:30p.m.

Omicron wrote:

So what if I institute a church of rap and play rap noise every hour on the hour, loud as a bastard, and call it "religious expression"? Maybe I'll do it across the street from this guy's church.

04 Nov 2009 02:01p.m.

Eric wrote:

@ Franklin: If you are right, then this Bishop is forcing his religion on everyone around him. If not, it's just noise pollution. @ Paula: "...the violence that plaques our nation." ...omg haha. Learn to spell.