Well, it looks like the Vatican is now taking on the role of Transportation Authority...or that is at least how the media would like it to look. Following the reports posted today on many online newsjournals about the issuance of the new "Ten Commandments" of Driving by the Vatican, readers have responded in an alarmingly hostile and critical way. Even some of my Catholic friends say the Vatican should be making reports on more important matters. I must admit, even my first thought was a critical, "Are you kidding me??"

Then I stepped back from the seeming ridiculousness of it all to realize that I should know better. This is not some spoof courtesy of the Vatican. The magisterium didn't sit around for a couple of years just to come up with these "rules." It's a teensy, weensy miniscule report based in the foundations of our own faith and the Gospel values centered in the life of Christ.

For those that all-knowingly assert that the Vatican should report on more important matters, perhaps their disdain would be better targeted at the popular media. There are hundreds of reports, advisories, comments and statements coming out of the Vatican office on a regular basis on matters of grave global importance - whether our political and media outlets ever read them is another matter. Matters related to poverty, racism, war, life and death issues - these are the items coming out of the Vatican daily. Yet, we don't see "front page" coverage. Clearly, it has no carnival appeal and wouldn't allow the inane to spout off. In fact, these reports and statements would actually call us to examine our lives and take action...no, it's much easier to print what is laughable.

Another...criticism...floating out there rather predominatly in the virtual comment arena is that this is yet another instance of the Vatican trying to control the Catholic populus, to dumb us down by blind obedience, old men merely trying to elicit a desired response. To them I say this with as much charity as possible: have you looked in the mirror? All the marketing, writing and "reporting" in our society today is doing exactly that, and yet, I contend that it is those elements that are looking for the blind response, and sadly, getting it.

Catholicism has never been about blind response. It is, was and remains a faith that calls us not only to closely examine ourselves, but to take active participation in a cause that began over 2000 years ago - the redemption of mankind. It calls us to live for the other, the least. It challenges us to go beyond our comfort, beyond our knowledge and to transform the world through Christ. Is the human face of the Church blameless? Of course not - it is after all human! Unfortunately, people focus on the humanity of people within the ranks and not on the divinely inspired nature of an organization that has lasted for over 2000 years despite war, famine and corruption. Somehow the evil is vanquished and the glory of God lives on - it sure isn't our doing!

This whole diatribe actually is precisely what the Holy Father spoke of in a recent address. As people of faith, we encounter an opportunity - God has always given us a choice. We can either choose to respond with hope and faith, seeking to understand the good, or we can choose to respond with skepticism, satisfied to mock and criticize. As the baptised faithful, we are called to be a people of hope, the light of the world. So, although I admit my first inclination was to question if such a statement was necessary, as I get on the road, I may actually think a little bit more deeply about how I live out my faith behind the wheel. And that, friends, is what I think the whole point of this report was about.