(Photo: Corydora on Flickr)
Citing the world’s 1.2 million annual traffic deaths, the Vatican has issued a document titled, “Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road,” that addresses the “consequence of trangressions and negligence” behind the wheel and offers solutions via a ‘Drivers 10 Commandments’.
Here is an excerpt from the AP story:
“The Vatican on Tuesday issued a set of “Ten Commandments” for drivers, telling motorists not to kill, not to drink and drive, and to help fellow travelers in case of accidents…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.”
And Cardinal Renato Martino says,
“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.”
And in true Vatican style, they’ve come up with the Drivers Ten 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 BTA has jumped on Commandment number nine as proof that God supports the Vulnerable Roadway Users Bill (HB 3314).
For the full story, read the AP report.