Beauty Pageant for Nuns

In my opinion, this report provides proof that there is always something new under the Sun.

A Catholic priest in Italy has come up with a novel way of enticing young people back to the church - by holding a beauty pageant for nuns.

The Sister Italia contest is to be run online, but Father Antonio Rungi is hopeful that one day it will take off in the real world along the same lines as the all-singing, all-dancing Miss Italia competition.

Father Rungi says around 1,000 nuns have already expressed an interest in taking part.

Apparently, the nuns can wear full habits and veils or let loose but Father Rungi doesn't expect nuns in swimsuits. Of course, having the contest online might result in some improperly-habited nuns competing.

The pageant reportedly will assess the inner beauty of the nun.


[Update 8/27/08]

The nun beauty pageant "Miss Sister 2008" has been canceled.

“I wanted to make a blog on vocations, one where everybody could bring their own experiences,” Rungi said by telephone from his town of Mondragone, about 35 miles north of Naples. “I wanted to create a showcase for the pastoral experience of nuns.”

“Instead, they made it look like it was a catwalk a la Miss Italy,” he said. “I have been misunderstood.”

The reverend said attacks against him, phone calls and e-mails prompted him to cancel the plan, as well as reported unease of his religious superiors over the idea.

Personally, I think Rev. Antonio Rungi was being naive in the very beginning. He wanted a beauty pageant where no one would look at the nuns' bodies. He should have thought twice about the idea.