Ellen Leventry: August 2008 Archives

You may have heard by now that Father Antonio Rungi, an Italian priest who was reportedly planning an online "beauty pageant" for nuns, has put the kibosh on "Sister Italy 2008", saying his intent was misinterpreted by the press and his local bishop.
"It was not at all my intention to put nuns on the catwalk," Rungi, a priest of the Passionists order, told Reuters. In fact, the contest would be hosted on Rungi's blog and would allow nuns to vote for each other, taking into consideration qualities such as "spirituality, social awareness, and charity."

Many years ago, when the first episode of MTV's "My Super Sweet Sixteen" aired, I thought that the network had taken a daring step by reflecting this generation's craven consumerism and narcissism back at them with the depictions of half-a-million dollar birthday parties and teens with no concept of the value of money or hard work.

OK, so the reflection was subtle, but it was there in the editing; a knowing wink directing our attention to the ludicrousness of the lifestyles of the rich and pubescent, and the parents who indulge it. But instead of being a learning experience, the first season spawned six more seasons of one-upmanship with flashier gifts and bigger musical guests. (I've only seen one episode in which the three gals celebrating asked their guests to donate to a charity in lieu of gifts.)

It's tragic enough that singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes died Sunday at the age of 65. But according to an article by Roger Friedman on Fox News.com, Scientology may have played a role in the singer's death--which was just today ruled the result of a stroke.

You may remember that back in March 2006, Hayes very publicly asked to be let out of his "South Park" contract right before the re-airing of the controversial Tom Cruise-Scientology "Trapped in the Closet" episode due to the series' "inappropriate ridicule of religious communities."

"There is a place in this world for satire," Hayes said in a statement, "but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins."