Okay, add to the list of modern annoyances in sacred spaces checking email and texting. Part of the Crackberry, er, Blackberry culture (which I have recently joined) I guess. Lord, save me. It may be hard.
AOL’s Fourth Annual Email Addiction Survey shows that more Americans are checking email while driving, in the bathroom, on vacation–and yes, in church, where email use has gone from 12 percent of folks (at least those who do ‘fess up) to 15 percent. (Full results are here.)
I guess we should be happy they’re going. But are Catholics better or worse than others? Heck, we have so much to do, what with getting up and down. Still, the Pope may not have helped matters when the Vatican launched a text message service from His Holiness for Sydney’s WYD. According to this CNA story, the pope’s first text message went:

“Young friend, God and his people expect much from u because u have within you the Fathers supreme gift: the Spirit of Jesus – BXVI.”

I liked the “BXVI” signature, but I suspect any middle-schooler would have written it in fewer characters. Still, I strongly doubt the pontiff is checking or sending emails or texts while celebrating mass. I suppose it’s encouraging church is still a sanctuary of sorts. Check out these numbers of places check email:

• In bed in their pajamas: 67%
• From the bathroom: 59% (up from 53% last year)
• While driving: 50% (up from 37% last year)
• In a bar or club: 39%
• In a business meeting: 38%
• During happy hour: 34%
• While on a date: 25%
• From church: 15% (up from 12% last year)

And here are 10 most-addicted cities. I wonder if Brooklyn is any better?
Here are the ten most email addicted cities in the country:
1. New York
2. Houston
3. Chicago
4. Detroit
5. San Francisco
6. Sacramento
7. Orlando
8. Minneapolis-St. Paul
9. Denver
10. Phoenix
Ship-of-Folls had a competition a few years back for a text message version of the Lord’s Prayer. Here are the results, and here is the winner:

dad@hvn,ur spshl.
we want wot u
want&urth2b like hvn.
giv us food&4giv r sins
lyk we 4giv uvaz.
don’t test us!save us!
bcos we kno ur boss,
ur tuf&ur cool 4 eva!ok?

Latin is looking better.