If the Church is so concerned with recognizing the contributions and abilities of women, it needs to put its bloated purse where its mouth is and appoint people to positions of authority based upon their merit and capabilities instead of gender. A beauty pageant is just downright insulting. Idiots.

Poor Richard, Missouri, USA

Father Rungi must be enjoying all those 'Father Ted' DVDs.

Paul, Coventry,

I don't know why christians feel insulted with this. Beauty's a gift of God, and in this contest they will not only show the face God gave them, but also, the purity of their lifes by showing what kind of personality and what good deeds they've done. It'll even boost their self-steem! Go Rungi!

Grace, Guayaquil, Ecuador

I wonder what the Holy Father would have to say about this idea.....May the Lord Jesus be the judge of all

Angela, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

This is NOT spreading the Christian message but instead saying, "See what the Church has resorted to?Their nuns no longer pray & live edifying lives of prayer & sacrifice but are now participating in beauty pageants.So much for giving their whole selves to Christ!" We Catholics pray this stops now.

Amy, Albuquerque, USA

Fr. Rungi seems confused. Since Vatican II all goes! This is as crazy as seeing which Euch. Minister has the cutiest legs or whattabout altar girls? Let them take off their monk-like albs & let them have a little fun too. I'd question the vocation of any Nun who would participate in this calamity

Anna, Los Lunas, USA

the next contest will be hold for cute alter-boys?

Brian, Budapest, Hungary

Any nun in her right mind and who values her dignity will boycott this outrageous calamity and proudly wear her habit!

Margaret, Albuquerque, USA

This is a ridiculous notion! It trivializes religious life and insults the woman who have chosen it. In fact, it insults anyone with intelligence and taste who have a better sense of what living a life in Christ means. Religious life certainly stands for a different type of beauty.

Mary, Peekskill, USA

Makes a pleasant change to have a priest interested in the beauty of young women.

iain rae, tunbridge wells, u.k.

It sounds to me like Father Rungi is in the wrong profession.

Stephen J. Brown, Cambridge, UK

To Tom, not refering to physical virgins.

To Cherie, a reconciliation strategy? The priest refers to his own perception of beauty (Brazilian nuns) and the need for nuns to be physically appreciated. The public seems to be considered, if at all, an externality with little relevance to the set up.

Jedi, Paris, France

Most men find virginity the ideal of female sexuality. Virgin girls are the most desirable, throughout all history.

limbury, bradford, uk

I say let them have some fun and show themselves to be human, after all i have yet to find a person who is not searching for respect. Oh, and so far as these persons being nuns is concerned, if you've got it FLAUNT IT

anthony, Carbrook, Australia

To Jedi from France. Surely you don't feel that only virgins can be good people.

To Cherie from Australia. What are you trying to say??

I agree with Father Rungi. I think Sophia is great. And I don't think that being a pretty nun should be hidden away just because she is a nun.

Tom, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Have you guys really lost the plot, take a picture of Our Good Lord and tell me how a Crucified person looks on a bad day?

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24)
(NASB)

I think your attempts to reconcile Man to the Catholic Church have failed.

CHERIE L CURRAN , CAIRNS , AUSTRALIA

So the worth of a woman (or man) should be measured in terms of "inner beauty". Yet this honorable gentleman finds Sofia Loren his ideal. A virginal soul, no one surely doubtz.

Nuns needing appreciation for their physical beauty?
Oohmygawd…Keep your judiciousness within Italian borders, will you!.

Jedi, Paris, France

Dear Lord without gender,
Why does it seem that manmade system in desperate trouble send out female spokeswomen. I wouldn't mind so much if any of these systems truly reflected and valued the views of women in their initial design.
Amen.
Stacey Whiteman, Australia

Stacey Whiteman, Sydney , Australia

In saying that, I remember being in Rome and they had a calendar of attractive priests. Father March was quite cute as I recall...

GH, London,

Where is the guidance for permissible and impermissible within Christianity? When the laws and rules of a religion are made by the mind of the people following it and not by God, they can legalise anything they desire. If it is the inner beauty which counts then why arrange a contest like this?

Mr.Gariban, Basildon, UK

This is a very good idea from Father RUNGI.

Dr Addy , Hampstead, England