In a world of road rage, drinking and driving and commutes so treacherous they raise drivers' blood pressure, the Vatican has stepped up where the Department of Motor Vehicles has left off. The pope has issued a new set of "10 Commandments"--for drivers.
The Drivers' 10 Commandments:
- You shall not kill.
- The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
- Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
- Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
- Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination and an occasion of sin.
- Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
- Support the families of accident victims.
- Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
- On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
- Feel responsible toward others.
The Vatican warned that our cars can be "an occasion of sin," particularly when they are used for dangerous passing or for prostitution, reports The Associated Press. Road rage can bring out primitive behavior, including "impoliteness, rude gestures, cursing, blasphemy, loss of sense of responsibility or deliberate infringement of the highway code."
Cardinal Renato Martino, who made the announcement for the Vatican, urged motorists to obey traffic regulations, drive with a moral sense and pray while they drive. "We know that as a consequence of transgressions and negligence, 1.2 million people die each year on the roads," Martino said. "That's a sad reality and at the same time a great challenge for society and the church."
The Vatican urges drivers to cross themselves before starting off and saying the rosary while driving since its "rhythm and gentle repetition does not distract the driver's attention."
--From the Editors at Netscape
