A few days ago I got a friend request on MySpace from a pastor. It freaked me out a little (Pastor + MySpace = WTF?!?) but I figured he was an anomaly. Now I see this:

ROME – The Vatican has launched its own YouTube channel in what is being touted as a watershed endorsement by Pope Benedict XVI of the new media age.

The Vatican YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/vaticanit, will feature a selection of short clips of papal messages, produced by the Vatican’s television center and Vatican Radio. 

The Pope is then quoted praising the internet as “a gift to humanity” and went on to expound upon the benefits of social networking sites, including Facebook and MySpace. He does warn, however, that “obsessive” internet usage could lead to “isolation”.

Um…WHAT?! Nothing that gave birth to the social phenomenon we now know as Tila Tequila is beneficial to mankind. Facebook and MySpace are fun, I will concur. But I don’t want the Pope or my grandparents using a application that lures people into taking “sexy” pictures of themselves in a grimy bathroom mirror. Also, I think it’s a bit of a travesty for “2 Girls, 1 Cup” and the Pope to be featured in the same place. But who knows, maybe this will help him reach more people or make the internet a holier place. I just can’t help thinking of “Buddy Jesus” from Dogma. Ick.

Via Variety

The Vatican has come up with the “Drivers 10 Commandments.” Got road rage? The Catholic church wants to help you through it. I have to say that after visiting the Beet in California I would need these to deal with SoCal highway traffic. Thankfully I live in New York so I just yell at people on the subway. But here are the commandments if you need a little bit more Jesus in your daily commute.

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.

I bet the Pope also wouldn’t be down with teenagers losing their virginity in motor vehicles…but “don’t do it in the back of your dad’s Taurus” just doesn’t sound elegant does it?