After months of silence, an Arizona church can begin its daily bell-ringings again.

A federal judge ruled that the Christ the King Cathedral in Phoenix has a constitutional right to ring its church bells, despite a city ordinance that prevented the pastor from doing so.

"It brings the law really into line with all the other cities and jurisdictions we've looked at where you can't use a noise ordinance to suppress religious expression," church attorney Gary McCaleb said.

Neighbors had complained that the church bells were too loud and played every hour. City officials eventually stepped in to stop the bells.

In response, Christ the King bishop Rick Painter and leaders of two other congregations sued-- calling the noise ordinance unconstitutional.

The judge also ordered the city to pay the churches $25,000 in attorney fees and court costs.