Church Clock

 Teshuvos Vhanhagos 02:412) Question: Is it permitted to look at a clock on a Church for the correct time? Answer: It would appear that there is no problem with this since is was not made for the sake of idolatry but because many people pass by and it is on a high place so that it is easily seen. And therefore it was placed there as a public service and thus it would not be considered as serving idolatry or even drawing attention to idolatry. Though the Minchas Eliezar is lenient in such cases he nonetheless says it is best to be strict in practice. However it really should be prohibited according to halacha since it draws attention to idolatry as it is referred to as the Church clock. Our Sages learn from the verse, Do not to mention the name of other gods that it is prohibited to say “Wait for me next to a certain avoda zara.”as that gives it significance so surely one should not use something attached to idolatry. But perhaps in modern times when a clock is very common and everyone wears a watch, a clock on a church provides no attention to idolatry. However since it is still associated with idolatry it should still be prohibited. In addition if the clock is viewed as useful than that means that people want to preserve the church in order to be able to see the clock which is a separate prohibition Perhaps that doesn’t make it associated with idolatry but is merely a desire to have a clock in a high structure> Nevertheless there is a clear requirement to destroy idolatry and that which serves it but perhaps that only applies to |Israel where it is a mitzva to active search and destroy idolatry. In conclusion it is best to prohibit the use of a church clock since it is a separate mitzva to despise idolatry and when one benefits it is harder to despise