Part of the observance of the 40 days of Lent is to give up something you enjoy; the Church’s suggestion about texting has two goals. First it’s a way, the Church suggests, for people to place value on real, not virtual, relationships; the second is to promote awareness of the years of civil war in the Congo in Africa – fighting fueled in part over the control of valuable deposits of coltan in the country, coltan is a source of tantalum, a rare element that is vital for the production of small electronics (like cell phones, hence the texting ban idea).
The Church had other Lenten suggestions – ride a bike or bus to work instead of driving, or give up your iPod and enjoy the sounds of the world around you. The reactions to the Church’s suggestions have been mixed, with some saying that the decision of a Lenten sacrifice should be a personal decision.
And before you start to think that the Church is run by a bunch of luddites, keep in mind that this year Pope Benedict XVI launched his very own YouTube channel.
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