What Would Jesus Drive? Pope Tells Priests To Buy Humble Cars

[JamesCaruso]

I think he would have to get it into Canon law, though, in order for it to be authoritative.

And that’s how it should be - friendly advice.

Flashy is in the eye of the beholder. I wouldn’t think twice about a priest driving a Mercedes sedan, for example. Some might call that “flashy” but I would call it dignified. And I would much rather see my Archbishop drive a Mercedes than a Mini.

There is also the issue of a priest’s own time. Secular priests are required, for example, to take vacations. Would you say it’s a hindrance for a priest to drive a “flashy” car on his own time when he is not engaged in pastoral activity?

So a dull black Ferrari with a matte finish would be okay?

 

[Christ_in_Linda]

So a dull black Ferrari with a matte finish would be okay?

Sure, as long as he has the Ferrari and the Ferrari does not have him. If God asked him to give it away to someone else to bless him; then pass it on. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. If God sees he can trust us in small things than He will begin trusting us with more. The rich man who came to Jesus was not willing to give up a penny and the Bible says he went away sorrowful. Jesus gave this young man the opportunity to place Jesus first in his life, but money had become his god. It isn’t that he was rich, but that he loved his riches and would not give God anything.He had become greedy.

 

[kag1982]

the diocese of las vegas covers half the state of nevada and is geographically bigger than several states. public transportation???

no.

This is a joke riffing on the transportation preferences of certain former Argentine prelates and human nature (i.e. desire to please the boss.) However, I actually am surprised that some of them haven’t made a big show out of taking public transportation.

 

[Fairwinds]

This is a joke riffing on the transportation preferences of certain former Argentine prelates and human nature (i.e. desire to please the boss.) However, I actually am surprised that some of them haven’t made a big show out of taking public transportation.

I just realized that.

 

[JamesCaruso]

Canon Law LLXXCCVII, states:

Priests should drive a plain, black, compact vehicle with a broad white stripe across the roof just above the windshield. Bicycles may be substituted in some countries.

Bishop’s vehicles should have violet pinstripes along the vehicle’s sides.

Only Cardinals may drive red-roofed coupes with rear red spoilers.

Pope’s vehicles must be entirely white, but black tires are acceptable.

The laity may drive any color car, but are strongly encouraged to drive black, gray, or brown compact cars, but with no white stripe across the roof. Lay married couples with more than two children may drive larger vehicles, including vans and station wagons.

Applications for vehicular dispensations may be obtained from the DMV (Department of Motorcars: Vatican City).

 

[Fairwinds]

Canon Law LLXXCCVII, states:

Priests should drive a plain, black, compact vehicle with a broad white stripe across the roof just above the windshield. Bicycles may be substituted in some countries.

Bishop’s vehicles should have violet pinstripes along the vehicle’s sides.

Only Cardinals may drive red-roofed coupes with rear red spoilers.

Pope’s vehicles must be entirely white, but black tires are acceptable.

The laity may drive any color car, but are strongly encouraged to drive black, gray, or brown compact cars, but with no white stripe across the roof. Lay married couples with more than two children may drive larger vehicles, including vans and station wagons.

Applications for vehicular dispensations may be obtained from the DMV (Department of Motorcars: Vatican City).

first year priests are required to have a yellow rookie stripe on the rear bumper of the car that is placed on both sides of the name or symbol of the manufacturer of the vehicle.

virgins use a white stripe.

 

[Pug]

I’m actually shocked that there aren’t more bishops who suddenly have become enamored with public transportation.

In USA many parts, no way. Public transportation (bus, train) is quite limited. Bishops seem to criss-cross their diocese quite often. I live in a smallish city and I can’t use public transportation regularly to get to my place of employment on the far side of town, much less travel between cities in the diocese (unless you mean the bishop is supposed to hire a limousine or cab everywhere, but then it would be cheaper to own a car himself and drive himself).

I go somewhere like Washington D.C. and it is public transportation nirvana. Same with Europe.

 

[markomalley]

It is factual that the popemobile is a VERY exotic luxurious vehicle and I wouldn’t even attempt to guess at the price the Catholics paid for it.

The Church paid nothing for the current “Popemobile” nor, as far as I know, have they paid for any of the previous ones. They are gifts from various manufacturers, primarily Mercedes Benz…

The current one that you’ve seen was given to the Pope by Mercedes Benz in 2012. He just had one given to him by Daimler’s president last week (for use at WYD).

 

[ajecphotos]

I like the way this Pope thinks! Great man.

 

[Mount_Carmel]

I feel very uneasy about the personal ‘earthly adornments’ of a parish priest I know, that include luxury cruises, a V12 Jaguar with personalised number plate {his secular brother has similar] and very expensive choice of clothing.

BUT, having said that, he has been very involved in turning around one of the most run down parishes in that diocese into one that has an award winning new church with many ‘bums on pews’, a very active social scene, two blocks of semi-sheltered accommodation for over the 50s, a new small convent, a nursing home, and a high street block that includes a charity shop and parish offices. The parish ‘debt’ is nearly wiped out, and the parish regularly donates to the ‘poorer’ parishes. So, in the scale of things, while he could do better regarding his personal life, he has done well on the wider scene.

 

[kag1982]

In USA many parts, no way. Public transportation (bus, train) is quite limited. Bishops seem to criss-cross their diocese quite often. I live in a smallish city and I can’t use public transportation regularly to get to my place of employment on the far side of town, much less travel between cities in the diocese (unless you mean the bishop is supposed to hire a limousine or cab everywhere, but then it would be cheaper to own a car himself and drive himself).

I go somewhere like Washington D.C. and it is public transportation nirvana. Same with Europe.

Again… It is a joke. PR stunt to please the boss. .

 

[Fairwinds]

I feel very uneasy about the personal ‘earthly adornments’ …So, in the scale of things, while he could do better regarding his personal life, he has done well on the wider scene.

appearances are everything.

 

[Pug]

Again… It is a joke. PR stunt to please the boss. .

No problem. One of my legs is much longer than the other since I am such a good mark for having it pulled. Well known in my family!

 

[Arizona_Fat_Gir]

Whatever anyone drives, and that includes priests and/or laity, be careful not to get a haunted car, like the one driven in the movie “Christine” since that would not be good. This car was all refurbished, as if brand new, and it had the power to fix itself if it was hit. The car was pure evil. I think it was a Plymouth Fury, if I am not mistaken.

 

[CaptFun]

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

One of the unrecorded miracles of Jesus is that the Good Shepherd could walk and “drive” at the same time.

John 21:25

There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.

 

[cheezey]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/The_Shepherd_and_his_Flock.jpg

One of the unrecorded miracles of Jesus is that the Good Shepherd could walk and “drive” at the same time.

 

[Z1Z2]

I’ve never seen a great car owned by a priest.

Depends on what you mean by “great”. Our previous priest drove (might still, I don’t know) a late model Toyota Highlander. Not “great” by some standards, but my family, and most of the people I know, are not driving $30,000+ vehicles. The source of the money for the car was probably his well off parents, since I doubt a priest’s salary would lend itself to that kind of car with poor gas mileage. I heard a few comments from parishioners about the fancy car. Our current priest drives a generic Buick sedan that blends in well in a crowd.

 

[irishpatrick]

I think the obvious point is that we should try to scale back so that we can give more.

 

[Elizium23]

Isn’t this betraying a rather simplistic view of economics? If I buy a car, or a work of art or something, the money I spend goes to employ various people who are providing services to manufacture the car, create the art, etc. If all the world chose to buy cheaper cars, then jobs would be lost, because the luxury cars with no markets would be unable to employ people to make and repair them.

It seems to me that if the Church spends money, much of it does get to the poor, even if it is spent on an expensive thing. The Pope didn’t want people from Argentina to take plane flights to Rome to see him - what does he think that did for the airline industry between those two places? Wasn’t he offending struggling flight attendants and skycaps and pilots and service technicians, imagine all the people who keep planes in the air.

I just don’t understand this “save money to give it to the poor” thing. Yes, certainly, spend frugally and donate to institutions that help the poor, such as St. Vincent de Paul, but we should also keep in mind the economic stimulation that occurs when we actually shop and buy reasonably-priced products that we need.

For example, my parish church has undergone many physical improvements in the past few years. Now would the Holy Father say that we should let our buildings fall apart and become ugly and uninhabitable and give the money right to the poor instead? Aren’t we keeping numerous local contractors happy and fed and providing for their well-being by giving them a competitive chance on bids for renovating the church? Our pastor has added many works of art, such as a splendor around the tabernacle, and new statuary for the sanctuary. These works are all coming from a poor artist in Mexico who has trouble feeding his family from day to day. We are a substantial source of income for him and he is very grateful that he can support us in this way while we support him in this way. Is our money better spent directly to St. Vincent de Paul? What about the parishioners who give money in good faith and expect it to be used for the betterment of the church edifice and the greater glory of God? Is our worship not enhanced by these new accoutrements? Is the artist’s faith not strengthened by the opportunity for him to show his devotedness through these masterpieces? Would he be satisfied instead with a handout and no market at all for his art?

 

[marci]

Isn’t this betraying a rather simplistic view of economics? If I buy a car, or a work of art or something, the money I spend goes to employ various people who are providing services to manufacture the car, create the art, etc. If all the world chose to buy cheaper cars, then jobs would be lost, because the luxury cars with no markets would be unable to employ people to make and repair them.

It seems to me that if the Church spends money, much of it does get to the poor, even if it is spent on an expensive thing. The Pope didn’t want people from Argentina to take plane flights to Rome to see him - what does he think that did for the airline industry between those two places? Wasn’t he offending struggling flight attendants and skycaps and pilots and service technicians, imagine all the people who keep planes in the air.

I just don’t understand this “save money to give it to the poor” thing. Yes, certainly, spend frugally and donate to institutions that help the poor, such as St. Vincent de Paul, but we should also keep in mind the economic stimulation that occurs when we actually shop and buy reasonably-priced products that we need.

For example, my parish church has undergone many physical improvements in the past few years. Now would the Holy Father say that we should let our buildings fall apart and become ugly and uninhabitable and give the money right to the poor instead? Aren’t we keeping numerous local contractors happy and fed and providing for their well-being by giving them a competitive chance on bids for renovating the church? Our pastor has added many works of art, such as a splendor around the tabernacle, and new statuary for the sanctuary. These works are all coming from a poor artist in Mexico who has trouble feeding his family from day to day. We are a substantial source of income for him and he is very grateful that he can support us in this way while we support him in this way. Is our money better spent directly to St. Vincent de Paul? What about the parishioners who give money in good faith and expect it to be used for the betterment of the church edifice and the greater glory of God? Is our worship not enhanced by these new accoutrements? Is the artist’s faith not strengthened by the opportunity for him to show his devotedness through these masterpieces? Would he be satisfied instead with a handout and no market at all for his art?

THIS