Monday, August 25, 2008

A beauty pageant for nuns?



Today's crazy news comes from Rome, Italy.

A priest is organizing an online beauty pageant for nuns called "Miss Sister 2008."

The idea, which Rev. Rungi swears came from nuns "with whom he regularly prays and works," is supposedly about fighting the stereotype that they are all old and dour.

Cause there's nothing worse for a woman than being seen as old. God forbid women who devote their lives in service to their church you know... age!

The contest will be online with each webpage featuring a nun's photo as well as information on her life and vocation. It's up to the women whether to pose with the traditional veil or not.

"Nuns are a bit excluded, they are a bit marginalized in ecclesiastical life," Rungi told The Associated Press after Italian media carried reports of the idea. "This will be an occasion to make their contribution more visible."

"We are not going to parade nuns in bathing suits," Rungi said by telephone from his town of Mondragone. "But being ugly is not a requirement for becoming a nun. External beauty is gift from God, and we mustn't hide it."

WTF!

I'd like to see a riot of nuns beat this guy about the head with their rosaries. It's true that nuns are marginalized. They are schooled theologians who are not allowed to lead mass, baptize children, marry parishioners or have any real say in church leadership. That is where they need more visibility and exposure. They don't need to be paraded in front of people as a status symbol of the church's "hotness" factor. Bathing suit or not.

But what do you think?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

abso-fucking-lutely.

Yes, nuns are horribly marginalized, not that I am surprised in a woman hating religion that mainstream Christianity/Catholicism has become (not all of it, but for the most part, you gotta admit i have a point), but parading them off in a sexualized fashion is soooo not the fucking answer.

How about not making nuns objects or tools to be used as religious men see fit? How about rather we do things to give them a better lifestyle or a voice in their profession? But no, that might give them some power and we all know that there is only so much power to go around. It would take away from the power the men have.

Great post.