The Rev. Michele Madonna, a Roman Catholic priest from Naples, Italy, has discovered a new approach to silencing cell phones during mass. Madonna installed a cell signal jammer in the Santa Maria di Montesanto Church, which interferes with signals in electronic devices and cell phones.
“I had put signs up asking people to switch off their phones after having services disrupted. Phones were always going off during Mass and at other events like funerals which just wasn’t on,” Madonna said.
Madonna asked police if the jammer was ok to be installed. After gaining approval, he purchased a jammer from an electrical store nearby for 63 dollars. Madonna is thrilled with the results of the installation of the jammer; he noted the problem has stopped entirely.
However, some local shops are not happy because the jammer blocks credit card authorization devices in local shops in downtown Naples.
“Since Father Madonna started using the jammer I’ve had real problems using my card swiper for payments. It just doesn’t work and I’m losing money,” a local merchant said.
This jammer continues to raise concerns and complicate issues in Italy.
While the priest said he has police approval, Quotidiano said Italy’s economic development ministry is actually the body charged with granting permission. One complicating issue might be “the right of the citizen” to communicate,” Quotidiano news service reported.
