Thou Shalt Not Fornicate in the Echo...

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/06/20/faith/14_03_126_19_07.txt

VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican on Tuesday issued a "Ten Commandments" for motorists to keep them on the road to salvation, warning drivers against the sins of road rage, abuse of alcohol or even simple rudeness.The unusual document from the Vatican's office for migrants and itinerant people also warned that automobiles can be "an occasion of sin" -- particularly when used to make a dangerous passing maneuver or when used by prostitutes and their clients.

And it suggested prayer might come in handy -- performing the sign of the cross before starting off and saying the rosary along the way. The rosary was particularly well-suited to recitation by all in the car, it said, since its "rhythm and gentle repetition does not distract the driver's attention."
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The document, "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road," extols the benefits of driving -- family outings, getting the sick to the hospital, allowing people to get to work and seeing other cultures.

But it laments a host of ills associated with automobiles: Drivers use their cars to show off; driving "provides an easy opportunity to dominate others" by speeding; and drivers can kill themselves and others if they drink, use drugs or fall asleep at the wheel.

It warned about the effects of road rage, saying driving can bring out "primitive" behavior in motorists, including "impoliteness, rude gestures, cursing, blasphemy, loss of sense of responsibility or deliberate infringement of the highway code."

It called for drivers to obey speed limits and to exercise a host of Christian virtues: charity to fellow drivers, prudence on the roads, hope of arriving safely and justice in the event of crashes.
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The Vatican's Ten Commandments for drivers:
1. You shall not kill.
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.

Wow. No, seriously...wow. Passing is a sin? Say a rosary while driving? Okay, no, really...overtaking is a sin? On the same scale as the immoral (not my word) act of prostitution? I'm thoroughly impressed...that really puts things into perspective for me. No word of a lie. Perspective. The article said the Pope did not sign off on this little project, which I suppose is the best thing to come out of this for him...I wouldn't put my name to this either.

But if I may for a moment, rant...Are you F%*#ing serious?!??! A means of communion between people? We have people all driving cars loaded with explosives into marketplaces, but that's not worth mentioning as much as say, not signalling during a lane change, or something equally inane and STUPID? This guy's not out of touch with the time...he's not even in the same solar system as the rest of us mere mortals! Keee-rist!! A species as obviously fallible as ours can't catch a break with these frocked virgins! We're always doing something wrong!

I respect the everyday Catholic Joe Blow, but really people, can you guys do anything about these nutjobs at the top? They are making you guys look bad.