Chicago, Ill., Jul 13, 2007 / 09:09 am
Schaumburg, Illinois village officials approved plans Tuesday to place a telecommunications antenna on the roof of a Catholic community center, despite concerns that it could promote the spread of pornography, reported the Chicago Tribune.
Village trustees voted unanimously to allow the construction of a brick enclosure that would conceal an antenna several feet high. The community center belongs to St. Matthew Catholic Church, located in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
A few members of the church raised a moral objection, arguing it could become a conduit for wireless customers to send and receive pornography. But other parishioners urged the board to approve the project.
Telecommunications towers on church properties are not uncommon. However, new cell-phone antennas and towers usually spark concerns among parishioners about health, safety, and aesthetics. Officials with the Archdiocese of Chicago said this is the first time anyone has raised concerns about the content that would pass through the technology.
The telecommunications tower would bring $20,000 into the parish budget each year.