What's Next, a Wet Habit Contest?

I'm generally not one to offer advice to religious leaders, but I think I'd reconsider this plan. A priest in Italy is concerned that nuns are traditionally viewed as "old and dour." His solution? An online beauty contest!

Antonio Rungi says The Miss Sister Italy online contest will start on his blog in September.

"Nuns are above all women and beauty is a gift from God," he told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper.

I don't think there will be any "naughty nun" costumes, tho:

Father Rungi stressed that nuns were not being invited to parade in bathing suits, saying it will be up to them whether they pose with the traditional veil or with their heads uncovered.

I would think that a better way to revamp the stereotype that Father Rungi is concerned about would be copious pictorial/film documentation of young(ish), outgoing nuns doing good works out in the world. Wouldn't that make some sense? The "let's turn them into objects" approach is a little to 19th century, isn't it? Even for the Catholic church?