Vatican Declares Hours Between 3 A.M., 5:30 A.M. 'Ungodly'

June 13, 2001 | Issue 37•22

VATICAN CITY–In the first papal edict against a time of day since 1560, Pope John Paul II declared the two-and-a-half-hour interval between 3 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. "wholly ungodly." "If a man dares to come home during these demonic hours, he shall be declared anathema," said His Holiness. "Likewise, anyone calling during these hours shall face excommunication." The pope added that in some cases, devout Catholics may receive special dispensation from a priest in a different time zone.