Pope goes txt crazy in Oz

 

Pope Benedict is going to txt mssg thousands of young Catholics during World Youth Day in Sydney in July. The messages will be of 'inspiration and hope" to what Bishop Fish calls 'tech-savvy youth'.  I bet he spells things out properly, the Pope.  None of your OnWRD Xtn SLdrs,  or Gd lvsU OK? 
    However,  nothing new in religious txting.  This site kindly offers numerous specimen messages (If evr u get tired, tell Jesus, He’ll take d fight & win  with u!).   An obliging blogger lists devotional phones available worldwide:  holy hip-hop ringtones ,  calls to prayer  programmed for Muslims, and the rather pleasing concept of a kosher phone, which does not do texts or internet but just voice calls, to avoid stupid distractions.  But here's a cautionary tale for Muslims:

In the Maldives, according to the Atoll Times and the pleasingly named Minivan News, nervousness about terrorism is so rife that police raided the home of a 16 year old boy at 4 15 am because his mobile had been sending verses from the Koran and prayers to friends on other islands.  "Fight the leaders of unbelief" etc.  The boy was not arrested but the house was searched and an extractor fan examined.  Keep to the gentler verses when texting. You know it makes sense.  If the Pope starts sending Fgt the Gd Fgt or that one about "Are we not thy chosen soldiers?" he could find his extractor fan being confiscated.