.- A judge in the Argentinean city of Santa Rosa has fined a local parish priest for ringing the church bells and creating “bothersome noise.”
Judge Alicia Corral said that the ringing of the church bell three times a day for eight minutes was generating complaints from neighbors. She added that if the priest continues to ring the bells each day, they would be confiscated.
Speaking to reporters, the pastor of the parish said the sanctions are the result of “the maliciousness, ignorance and battle being waged against the Church” by “a group of local officials.”
He said neighbors have gathered more than 1,000 signatures demanding that officials “leave the church alone.
“And if need be we can get 30 or 40 thousand signatures,” he said.
Church officials have appealed the ruling.
