The Vatican has issued a new set of moral guidelines aimed at the worst type of sinner: rude car drivers. “Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road” is a 36-page document that addresses

everything from road rage, respecting pedestrians, keeping a car in good shape and avoiding rude gestures while behind the wheel.

“Cars tend to bring out the ‘primitive’ side of human beings, thereby producing rather unpleasant results,” the document said.

It appealed to what it called the “noble tendencies” of the human spirit, urging responsibility and self-control to prevent the “psychological regression” often associated with driving.

There’s a bit more at the Vatican website, although I’m having trouble locating an actual copy of the document online. (Anyone have a link?) The “Ten Commandments” of the document seem about what you’d expect: don’t drive drunk, don’t speed, don’t be rude to other drivers, don’t use your fancy car just to boost your own ego. The Reuters article above notes that “praying while driving [is] encouraged,” although presumably that’s one instance where it’s OK to not close your eyes during prayer.

A bit unusual, but if it gets a few of my fellow Michigan drivers to stop passing on the right, I’m all for it.