Cell phone calls are more and more being blocked by technology initially created to assist security personnel in preventing unauthorized listening and stopping phone-activated explosive devices.

The reporters were the first to notice the issue. While they were busy covering the weddings of prominent individuals, they found themselves unable to contact their editors. Curious about the lack of cell phone signal at Sacred Heart, they inquired with the priest. His response pointed to Israeli counterintelligence as the reason behind the connectivity problem.

Israeli-manufactured cell phone blocker, resembling paperbacks in size, have discreetly been placed among religious artworks depicting the Madonna and statues of saints in four churches in Monterrey.

The disruptive multicolored noise of ringing mobile phones is being more and more effectively blocked in various places, such as religious sanctuaries, India's parliament, Tokyo theaters, and commuter trains, thanks to devices initially created to assist security forces in preventing eavesdropping and stopping phone-activated bombings.

The installation of signal blocker in the Indian parliament came after repeated requests for politicians to switch off their cell phones were disregarded, leading to frequent interruptions during legislative sessions.

Italian universities have implemented the use of blockers as a response to the issue of tech-savvy teenagers cheating on exams by sending text messages or capturing images of test materials.

The four Roman Catholic Churches in this northern city have recently adopted the devices provided by Netline Communications Technologies Ltd., a Tel Aviv-based company. These devices were imported by an insurance salesman as a personal favor for a priest.

The Rev. Juan Jose Martinez, a spokesperson for the archdiocese, expressed that there are still numerous individuals who fail to comprehend that attending Mass entails participating in a sacred moment with God. Regrettably, the utilization of these small devices became an unavoidable necessity.

These devices, which were acquired at a cost of approximately $2,000 each, have the capability to be activated remotely and emit radio frequencies at a low level. Their purpose is to disrupt cell phone signals within a radius of 100 feet.

Cell phone users often encounter a message stating "no service" or "signal not available" on their devices.

Wedding bells

The Sacred Heart church in Monterrey, a baroque temple popular among Mexico's upper class for weddings, had their blockers purchased by church officials two years ago.

Bulmaro Carranza, a parish clerk, mentioned that during weddings, cell phones would ring every five minutes. This posed a significant issue, as there were instances when even the groom would neglect to silence his cell phone.

The devices remained unnoticed for several months until journalists, who were covering the weddings, started expressing their dissatisfaction with the constant malfunctioning of their cell phones.

Carranza mentioned that ever since news about the signal blocker spread, priests from various parts of Mexico have been reaching out to inquire about acquiring them.

Prior to each Mass at Sacred Heart, a device positioned at the church entrance and another near the altar are activated. Nevertheless, the clergy consistently emphasize the importance of switching off mobile phones before the commencement of the services, with the aspiration that proper cell phone etiquette will gradually become more widespread.

Martinez mentioned that wealthier parishioners also frequent The Rosario, San Juan Bosco, and Our Lady Queen of the Angels, among other Monterrey churches with the devices.

Martinez emphasized that many people consider the cell phone a necessity, yet this should not excuse them from practicing good manners and showing respect for sacred locations.

Margarita Escobedo, a devout Catholic who attends church services at least twice a week and actively volunteers at the San Genaro church, expresses her willingness to embrace the use of jammers within her parish. She believes that the increasing presence of cell phones has become a bothersome distraction, and thus, welcomes any measures that can alleviate this nuisance.

Escobedo stated that individuals who bring cell phones to church are lacking in commitment to God. He emphasized that the sounds of birds chirping or techno music can be highly disruptive during prayer.