Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Vatican's 10 Commandments for drivers

I came across this article on Yahoo! this morning and it just floored me. (To see the whole article go to: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070619/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_road_rage)

My favorite part is the fact that we now have 10 additional Commandments that are focused solely on driving:
  1. You shall not kill.... Duh, didn't we already have this one?
  2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.... Can somebody explain this one to me? "A means of communion" the only time I commune with others on the road is when I look in the mirror and can tell they are listening to the same radio station I am because they are singing along!
  3. Courtesy, uprightness, and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events..... Is this supposed to be only for driving? And, if so, how can "courtesy" help me deal with the jerk on the cell phone that swerves into my lane?
  4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, expecially victims of accidents.... I would, but blook makes me a little woozy, besides I do try to allow ONE person to merge in front of me when an accident has blocked the lane.
  5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.... What does the Vatican think we are doing with our cars - "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.... Again, duh - take the keys away from the drunks!! Isn't there a whole other campaign focused on this? Does the Vatican REALLY need to jump on board?
  7. Support the families of accident victims.... Okay, but does this have to be a Commandment?
  8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness..... Yeah, hold your breath for that one!!
  9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.... WTF?
  10. Feel responsible toward others.... How can anybody command how I am supposed to feel, especially towards others? You can command how I am to act toward others, but you can't command my feelings!!

So, those are the Vatican's Ten Commandments for Drivers. So, here are some additional questions that I have....

  1. Are these sin-worthy commandments?
  2. If so, what would be the punishment... 10 Hail Marys and wash the Bishop's car?
  3. Do I have to include these in my confessions now? "Forgive me Father for I have sinned. I have had impure thoughts four times, I coveted my neighbors ass (as in donkey) twice, and I was not courteous when the truck driver cut me off on the on-ramp."
  4. And finally, how big of a sin is it to break the Driver's Ten Commandments while using the Lord's name in vain, because if any of you have EVER driven with me, you pretty much know that I cuss like a sailor when driving!!

1 comment:

Queen B said...

Yep, definitely need to include driving infractions in your confessions. Do you have to confess when you have road rage? I so don't want to have to do confession daily!