Church bell 'noise' under attack – in America

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | September 05, 2009 | Bob Unruh

[Man50D]

Three churches in Phoenix have brought a legal action against the city because one pastor already has been convicted and other churches are being threatened over the "noise" from their bells, some of which have rung out to the community for decades.

The lawsuit has been filed by the Alliance Defense Fund on behalf of St. Mark Roman Catholic Parish, First Christian Church and Christ the King Liturgical Charismatic Church.

The dispute focuses on the city ordinance that even city officials have conceded is vague, according to the lawsuit. Nevertheless, on the strength of neighbors' complaints and the existing statute, one pastor already has been convicted and sentenced for violating the city ordinance with church bells. The complaint alleges others now also are threatened.

City officials said they could not comment because they had not been served with the complaint, which has been posted on the Internet.

"Churches shouldn't be punished for exercising their faith publicly," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. "The law is unconstitutionally vague and has been abused to silence a form of worship that has peacefully sounded through the streets of our nation since its founding.

"No one should be sentenced to jail and probation for doing what churches have traditionally done throughout history, especially when the sound of the church's bells does not exceed the noise level that the law allows for ice cream trucks," he said.

[muawiyah]

The ice cream truck thing means the churches win ~ or, the ice cram trucks lose.

[Sacajaweau]

This was an issue in our city.....100 Years ago....Yes, the bells were silenced BY LAW.

[tgusa]

Wait until you hear the wailing from the mosques. Sounds like a cat being skinned alive.

[Joe Boucher]

So, how long til Ozero taxes the Christian Churches?

[RU88]

One of the fond memories I have of growing up were the bells of the nearby churches. It was not just random ringing but melodious music that was played. What has this country become?

[wombtotomb]

Liberals could no longer tolerate the christian reminder of call to prayer on Sunday mornings. Their plan unfortunately worked........

[Tainan]

I jog on the sports field campus of a nearby University. The large bell tower uses electronic "bells" and plays music on the hour strikes.
At 12 noon everyday it plays the funniest version of 'De Camp Town Races' I have ever heard...sometimes I have trouble jogging and laughing at the same time its so funny.

[milford421]

It’s already being done in Hamtrack, Michigan.

ADF should use this case as precedent.

[rbg81]

Wait until you hear the wailing from the mosques.

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Of course, complaints about the Muslim call to prayer (5X per day!) will be dismissed as racist. [/s]

[The Great RJ]

Gee any mosques in the area broadcasting the daily call to prayer over loudspeakers and not being similarly cited by the city?

[ansel12]

Wait until you hear the wailing from the mosques. Sounds like a cat being skinned alive.

Here is how Obama described them.

>In a remark that seemed delightfully uncalculated, Mr. Obama described the call to prayer as "one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset."

[chris_bdba]

Having lived behind a church with very loud bells I can sympathize but it was me who bought that house without thinking about what living there would be like. I have to say that having them go off at 8:00 am Sunbday morning after a late night Saturday night did not bring the best out in me but after 5 or 6 years we began to be able to sleep through it. Now the Fire Station across the street....LOL It was a very nice house and I miss it terribly but not the neighborhood!