Austria: Catholic church fined for phone texting

VIENNA (AP) — Austria's Roman Catholic church has learned its lesson. Mass is OK. Mass texting is not.

A diocese in the southern city of Graz says it has been found guilty of contravening Austria's telecommunications law by sending mass texts to the cellphones of followers asking them to pay overdue membership fees.

Members of recognized religions in Austria must pay so-called "church taxes" or opt out of membership. For a Catholic, non-payment would mean no right to church sacraments.

Diocese official Hertha Ferk was quoted by the Der Standard newspaper on Tuesday as saying the diocese has agreed to pay a fine that is under 10,000 euros ($13,475).

A court took up the case after complaints from some of the 17,000 church members in arrears who received the text last year.

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Oregon juror jailed for texting during the process

SALEM, ore. (AP) — a judge in Oregon noticed an unexpected glow on the chest of a juror, while the House lights were dimmed during video evidence in a trial for armed robbery.

The juror, it seemed, was texting.

Marion County Circuit Judge Dennis Graves has cleared the courtroom and apologies all jurors except for 26-year-old Benjamin Kohler.

According to a news release from the Office of Sheriff of Marion County, Kohler had no explanation for his actions.

Jurors in Oregon are given explicit instructions at the beginning of each trial not to use mobile phones in court.

Graves held in contempt, and Kohler Kohler spent most of Tuesday and Wednesday in the county jail. He was released Wednesday night.

The nature of the text message, nor the recipient has been disclosed.

Kohler did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Thursday.

An alternate juror took his place. Sheriff's spokesman Don Thompson said the Thursday test ended with the accused guilty.

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