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The Vatican Lauds Hackers

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the papal-soldering-gun dept.

angry tapir writes "Internet hackers have acquired a dubious reputation for piracy, sabotage and the spilling of sensitive secrets, but an authoritative Vatican publication appears to rehabilitate them and traces parallels between hacker philosophy and the teachings of Christianity. The charitable view of hackers was expressed by the Jesuit priest Father Antonio Spadaro in an article for the fortnightly magazine Civilta Cattolica, the text of which is vetted by the Vatican Secretariat of State prior to publication. Hackers should not be confused with crackers, Spadaro wrote, citing a definition penned by technology writer Eric S. Raymond: "Hackers build things, crackers break them.""

8 of 375 comments (clear)

  1. After all ... by PPH · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... Jesus Christ hacked Christianity out of Judaism.

    And Martin Luther wrote the open source version.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
    1. Re:After all ... by chemicaldave · · Score: 4, Funny

      The Romans did not approve of his breaking of DRM so they crucified him. This tradition has endured even today.

  2. Re:Apocalypse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I thought "cracker" just meant "white person."

  3. Re:Hackers=christians?? by grub · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hackers are the altar boys. Crackers are the altar boys who sue.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
  4. Aren't Hackers Terrorists? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    This must mean the Vatican now prefers bazaars over cathedrals.

  5. Re:Hackers=christians?? by GameboyRMH · · Score: 4, Funny

    Plus hackers use the Internet, which encourages satanism!

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  6. Re:So who wants to join? by Alsee · · Score: 4, Funny

    Church of Jesus Christ, Computer Programmer. Free kool-aid and cookies this Sunday.

    Shouldn't that be Mountain Dew and Pizza?

    -

    --
    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  7. Re:Hackers=christians?? by M.+Baranczak · · Score: 4, Funny

    You can go in the winter, when it's cooler.