Most of you probably have heard about the Vatican’s recent document regarding driving. I caught the ABC report and the end of the NBC report last night after hearing several different radio discussions on the subject. Everything I heard was a puff piece about how cute it seems that the Vatican would weigh in on such issues. Not one outlet in the mainstream media that I heard mentioned that the document on safe driving was only one of four issues dealt with in the DOCUMENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANT PEOPLE: "GUIDELINES FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE ROAD". The Document also deals with prostitution, street children, and homelessness.

Among other things, the document says that prostitution is a form of slavery and expresses alarm at the apparent increase in human trafficking involving prostitution. It stresses the importance of warmth and personal care in outreach and housing programs for street children. It asserts that attention to maintaining human dignity is essential to a Christian response to the homeless.

It is small wonder that so few people take the voice of the Church seriously when the reporting is so poor and shallow. I’m going to complain to several news outlets tonight, I suggest that anyone who wants better reporting on the Church to do the same.