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Clergyman Convicted of Violating Noise Law Through Playing Church Bells

By Howard M. Friedman

In Municipal Court in Phoenix, Arizona yesterday, a local clergyman, Bishop Rick Painter of Christ the King Cathedral, was found guilty on two counts of violating the city's noise ordinance because of the hourly ringing of electronic church bells. An Alliance Defense Fund release says that the bells normally ring each hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Painter was given a suspended sentence of ten days in jail and three years' probation. The court also ordered that in the future the church bells can only be played once on Sunday mornings and once on each of 5 holy days for up to two minutes in duration with a noise level not to exceed 60 decibels (measured from adjacent property lines). (Full text of order.) ADF said it is reviewing the options available to protect Bishop Painter's rights.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on June 04, 2009 (boomark / email).