Update: "Online Beauty Pageant for Nuns" story faked?

Earlier today I covered a story that was getting wide press: "Priest to hold "online" nun beauty pageant".

AmP reader Gregor responded:

It would seem the BBC is a bit behind. This was widely reported in the German press a few days ago. Today, the [Austrian] newspaper "Der Standard" is reporting that Fr Rungi has called off the "contest", because he has been "deliberately misunderstood". His only aim had been, he says, to show the beatuy of the life of religious sister. Cf. http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=1219581718477

At least one other Internet commenter supports this clarification independently:

Italian priest Antonio Rungi has scrapped his initiative for a beauty contest for nuns. He said his proposal was misunderstood, and that his main intention was to show the beauty of life in a monastic order.

The priest blames the media, which he said focussed exclusively on the beauty aspect of his action. The priest received a number of threats as a result of the media attention for his initiative, including that he would burn in hell. (source - #18)

I'm reserving final judgement, but it wouldn't surprise me if this priest had a more innocent original intention (or had just this foolish idea) and the press ran with it, beyond his control.

You can stow the pitchforks and straw, and go back to your homes. I think this little story is over.

Related: Nuns Have Fun in the Sun