NPR: Vatican Issues 'Ten Commandments' for Drivers

Vatican Issues 'Ten Commandments' for Drivers

I've often thought that it was only religious intervention preventing me from killing certain fellow motorists every day. Now religion really is intervening: The Vatican has actually issued a "Ten Commandments" for drivers.

They include: Don't drink, don't kill and don't turn left from a right-hand lane. All right, maybe that last one isn't in there, but it should be. The guidelines also note that a car should not be used as an "occasion for sin," including prostitution and dangerous passing. HA! I always knew those guys in muscle cars who swerved by in no-passing zones were going to hell.

The Vatican also advises prayer behind the wheel -- already normal practice for anyone venturing out on the roads in Boston or Washington, D.C., during rush hour.

5:38 PM ET | 06-19-2007 | permalink

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I could not believe my ears when I heard the Vatican had released 10 new commandments. I thought, 'finally! The Vatican has a sense of humor about itself!" Apparently, the Vatican's spokesperson said their 'creative pedagogy' would get people's attention. Yep. And while I agree they are not sacrireligious, they just don't have the zing, the gravitas or the terror of moral condemnation that the original 10 did. Funny, absolutely. And much more likely to be put up in a courtroom.

Sent by Eric Bleier | 10:18 AM ET | 06-20-2007

I am reliably informed that God rides a Harley. So I would expect a commandment like 'thou shalt render assistance to thine mechanically-stricken two-wheeled neighbour, and neither smite him by failure to head-check thine passage betwixt lanes of passage.'

Sent by Peter Lloyd | 9:54 PM ET | 06-20-2007

Number 5 says "Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin."

That's really funny considering the Pope rides a limousine and wears Gucci shoes. I guess we should do as they say, not as they do...

Sent by Rita | 6:28 PM ET | 06-21-2007

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