should I have confronted them
By sheanne
@sheanne (440)
Philippines
May 24, 2010 6:50am CST
Hello mylotters, I need your reaction regarding what I've seen and observed yesterday while our family attended the Sunday mass. From the start until the end of the mass I can't imagine how this one woman was doing. She's seated infront of us and I really want to talk to her just that I was avoiding confrontation during the mass. Can you imagine what she's been doing, for the whole duration of the mass she's been sending text messages. How disrespecting and how annoying it was.
During the mass I looked at my back since I heard a cell phone ringing and there's another lady, with her whole family, answering the call. While the woman's talking on phone I happened to glance at my side and their besides us sitting a guy just passed a cellphone probably to his wife.
My goodness couldn't they observed silence or respect who's with them. It was so disgusting how some of the people are doing now in the church. Couldn't they just for an hour closed their cellphone, observed silence, people are in the church to praise, pray, couldn't concentrate at all. Our family before the mass we always make sure to switch off our cellphone.
Actually after the mass I wanted to talk to them but they're just gone out of my sight. I told to myself next time if I've seen anyone or heard anyone with cellphones ringing I will surely talk to them face to face.
If this happened to you, what will be your reaction? What you will do? Should you confront them immediately or just ignore them?
Happy mylotting
6 people like this
27 responses
@Rysonia (310)
• United States
24 May 10
Personally I would set up a meeting with the Priest and ask if he would make an announcement at the next mass requesting everyone to be respectful of others and turn off their cellphones. Confronting others personally about such an issue is sadly highly unlikely to gain any benefits as it will only put the offenders on the defensive. The Priest making a request from the pulpit is more generalized, but the same message is being given out. And even better that message is coming from a man of the cloth which to any Catholic should make them sit up and take notice of what he was saying. It is a sad day when people interrupt everyone's time with God to worry over secular matters.
3 people like this
@karen1969 (1779)
•
24 May 10
I don't think I would say anything to them, but it is definitely disrespectful to use mobile phones in a church. I am surprised they were allowed to have them ringing.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
25 May 10
I think it is sad. They obviously are going to church just out of habit and not out of any Real love for Jesus. I am not a Christian but I do understand your anger. You were there to pray. They were there because they Had to go to church. Thankfully I was never forced to go to church because I fear If I had been, I would be watching the game on my cell phone while the service was going on. My Dad was a baptist and my mom an Agnostic. Me? I'm Jewish. So for me church would be a waste of time.I think you should talk to your Priest about it.what I would love to see is the church have a way to jam the signals inside the church and yet not outside. So all the people who Need to text Have to go outside. That way The Devout can pray in peace.
2 people like this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
24 May 10
Hi sheanne, This is just plain disrespectful, no one should be allowed to take a cell phone to church. Why are they there if they have no intention of listening to what's being said? It is disrespectful to those who want to be a part of the service. I would say the same for anyone talking on a cell phone in a theater when other want to watch a movie. It's all about respecting the rights of others. I think it would be best if you and others who find it frustrating would speak to your priest. Blessings.
2 people like this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
25 May 10
As it is annoying, I dont think you should take it upon yourself to say anything. You're just going to start a confrontation that neither you or your family needs. They werent doing anything to particularly hurt you. I think that maybe you should talk to the person in charge and tell them what was going on during the service. Let them know that you are not going to come if you cant hear.I know you're not going to skip church but if they think that the problem can potentially stop people from attending their church. You want to stop the problem but you dont want them thinking you're some kind of busy body who goes around confronting other parishioners. You are absolutely correct in feeling the way you do. Its just you should be careful in how you handle it. dl
2 people like this
@petercenter (37)
• Nigeria
25 May 10
don't ever try a confrontation in the church cos it may result in a fight. not everyone that goes to church know the very importance of doing that, they see it as a Sunday ritual and so do not add any importance to it.
the best that could be done in this must be handled by the church Council.
At the church I attend, it is usually announce that all phones should be put off before entering the church. phone calls don't only distract you and others around, it also cross interfere with electromagnetic signal from the church public address system. thereby causing a noise.
Ushers can also go round to inform those using phones to switch it off.
Most people won't respect your call for decency, neither will they acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit but they will obey a Human law. So, let the church make it a law in the church for all phones to be switched off before coming in
2 people like this
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
26 May 10
A few months ago, someone's cell phone rang during the worship service. The owner answered and actually carried on a conversation with the caller. Now, whoever does the announcements reminds every one to turn their cell phones off during the service. Texting is rude and should not be done, but I'd leave it to the preacher, an elder, or close friend to remind the person that it was inappropriate.
1 person likes this
@syankee525 (6261)
• United States
24 May 10
yeah that is sad. i would say something to your priest about it, or whoever. and maybe they will say something before next week mass
1 person likes this
@opalina143 (1240)
• Morristown, New Jersey
25 May 10
I think that's a very good idea. Probably better than confronting them yourself. Of course, if they're showing so much disrespect in Mass, they may not listen to the priest -- but I can't help but wonder why they even go to mass if they are not going to listen to the service or participate.but I understand how you feel -- it would annoy me too.
1 person likes this
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
24 May 10
Well, I share your sentiments sheanne. There are people who are uncaring of what's proper and what's not but telling what other people should do is inviting arguments which makes the problem worse. You see, you cannot teach a person who thinks that
she is doing the right thing so the best thing to do is to just keep quiet. It is sad but there are lots of people who do not care. Perhaps the best thing to handle this problem is to talk to the pries about making announcement before the mass to tell the worshipers to put off their cellphones first until the mass is over. People will listen to the priest and it will save you from untoward incidents.
Thanks for being concerned. I find people today uncaring and lacking of discipline.
@Kumar1232009 (1215)
• Spain
24 May 10
i will not confront them personally. i think it is better to just tell to the priest.
2 people like this
@Cutie18f (9546)
• Philippines
25 May 10
Yes, I know what you mean. There is a lot of disrespecting going on even in churches because of the cellphone. Now if some auditoriums announce before the show that all cellphones must be temporarily set in silent mode, then I think all churches should also have the same rule. Courts also demand that everyone in court should "off" their cellphones. Texting and answering calls in the house of God? That is even worst. Classes and teachers do not allow such interferences, how much more when you're supposed to be listening to God's word?
2 people like this
@p3ks626 (6538)
• Philippines
24 May 10
I think I am also going to react the same way you did. I am going to confront that person since he/she is distracting the spirit in that room. I mean, the room is suppose to be sacred and all the things that you do in there are sacred so they need to respect that. You can tell them in a nice way. They can still turn on their cellphones but they have to put it to silent mode.
1 person likes this
@sheanne (440)
• Philippines
26 May 10
You are right p3, I mean couldn't they do their cellphone activities after the mass. It's not only I and my family were annoyed with what they've been doing, other people looked at them too. It was really disrepectful, didn't observe the sacredness of the place at all.
@mercedlegurpa (955)
• Philippines
25 May 10
Well you have the right to confront them. The reason why we go to church is to pray to our God and also we attended mass to exalt God for the graces that He give to us. These women should be reprimanded because they didn't show respect to the Holiness of the Mass. There are instructions posted on the church walls that cellphones should be put off (sound) so it would not distract the the solemnity of the mass. Even when the baby cries, some mothers take them out just to show respect. It's your right to confront them.
1 person likes this
@meowcow (931)
• Philippines
25 May 10
No, don't tell the priest about them specifically. Then you'd be a tattle-tail. Don't confront them one by one either. That won't work. In my experience, and I assume this for all people too, other people just won't listen to you. So confronting them would have gotten you nowhere. It would just have satisfied that little anger or hatred you have towards them or what they represent. Which I don't think you should condone considering you are a church-goer. I'd tell the priest to just regularly announce it before the mass starts until it rarely even happens again. Was it a Catholic church? I know Catholics seem to be much looser with their rules and rituals I'd almost never see that in a born-again/Christian church. They have too much respect for the Lord or something. I've stopped going to both though. ^^
1 person likes this
@babysiomai (2)
• Philippines
25 May 10
well, i'll just talk to the parish priest about it, or some other people who's involve with the celebration of the mass. i think it's really neat for the church to remind those who'll attend the mass that cellphones must be turned off during the celebration. i think it's also respectful that one must be sensitive with each other.
1 person likes this
@thanks1961 (7035)
• India
25 May 10
It seems we are not reached no where. People themselves have to change. It is a must thing especially such places. I don't know when these people are going to learn common behaviour. This is a situation where no one to be reminded that they should switch off the mobiles and a place of common gathering where there should keep certain basic requirements to be maintained.
Self awareness is the main features. People should self educate on these matters. If the educated and grown up people are doing like this, how we can blame children? I think children are more matured than adults.
However, if they are not bothered, it is better to call them and tease them saying that it is too much and we are expecting maturity from you people and this is to be observed without telling anyone.
If they are ready to accept, it will not repeate.
Regards,
Thank-s
1 person likes this
@Steinway (307)
• United States
25 May 10
Yes, someone should say something. Because, to me that is plain disrespetful. Not only to the priest, but to other worshippers there. I mean you go to church to worship, not to be on the cell phone. The phone calls and the texting can wait till after church.
1 person likes this
@walking2010 (1009)
• United States
25 May 10
Wow talk about having respect in the church. and being that you where distracted by it I would mention something to the pastor about it because you might not be the only one who was affected by it, because if you confront them u don't know what type of people they are, they might be full of drama, so just let the pastor know so he can make a request that all cellphones be turned off or put on silent and if they need to take the call they need to go outside to take the call.
1 person likes this
@Cherish2004 (183)
• United States
24 May 10
When mass is over talk to her about the issue so it won't be problem. If that didn't help talk to the person in charge about her issue. We both know the presist won't over look it too when standing up there and trying talk too about god that morning. Don't worry they will all stop talk on their phones all together when mass is start every sunday.
1 person likes this
