Italian bishops are calling for Catholics to fast from texting for Lent, the five-week period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.
Bishops in towns like Modena, Italy have also called for parishioners to give up TV, iPods and the internet for a week.
Ironically, they posted the plea on the archdiocese's website.
There's no word on whether American bishops plan on following their Italian brethren. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia's website made no mention of it.
As your typical twenty-something Catholic in this city, I feel I've done my time making sacrifices for Lent.
Isn't giving up meat on Friday enough? Why can't they ask us to give up things that we don't like?
How about asking us to give up work on Fridays? "Oops, sorry boss, I can't come in today. I gave it for Lent."
This Creaster (a Catholic who only goes to church on Christmas and Easter) won't be partaking.
For years I have made Lenten sacrifices just because I felt I had to. Guess the 12 years of Catholic school struck fear in my heart (Oh no! I need to pick something to give up for Lent or God will hate me!). I've given up candy like 20 times, beer and I even tried to stop cursing--all which I reverted back to right after (and many times well before) Easter.
So no more sacrifices.
Am I weak? Nope. I have made plenty of sacrifices in my life, but it's because I wanted to make myself better.
You don't need to sacrifice something for five-weeks just because the church says so.
God knows me and knows technology makes me who I am. It's like asking a stripper to give up the pole…not happening.
So there will be texting every Friday from my phone and I'm proud of it.
And for all you evangelicals who are about to slam me in the comment section below, let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
God will understand and if not, oh well, I'll just burn…