Everyone's favorite heiress, Paris Hilton, has been short-listed to play Mother Teresa in an upcoming biopic of the beloved humanitarian. Not since 1960's sexual icon Sally Field (of "Gidget" fame) was cast as "The Flying Nun" has the Catholic World been met with a comparable cinematic assault upon all that it holds dear.
In 1967, when Ms. Field was cast as Sister Bertrille on the hit television series, "The Flying Nun," many in the Catholic community were appalled that the entertainment industry would soil the Catholic faith by allowing California surfing harlot -- "Gidget" -- to portray a woman of the cloth. The potential casting of Ms. Hilton as the Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta is certain to draw similar ire from the Catholic Church.
However, some in the Catholic community are pleased with the choice of Ms. Hilton as Mother Teresa, hoping that Hilton's acceptance of this "role of a lifetime" will transform her from vapid, promiscuous princess to serious, sensitive actress.
The Catholic Church has long taken credit for Ms. Field's 1984 Academy Award for Best Actress for "Places in the Heart," convinced that it was Ms. Field's role on "The Flying Nun" which legitimized her as a Hollywood star.
One Catholic Bishop interviewed for this story, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the following on the subject of Ms. Hilton's potential role as the divine Mother Teresa:
"I really enjoyed House of Wax, but was ambivalent about One Night in Paris. I found the shaky camera work to be distracting ... even for a sex tape. But, I'm hopeful that after playing our Beloved Mother Teresa, young Paris will be well on her way to the Oscar podium. The scientologists think they run Hollywood. Well, they don't. The Catholics do."
Ms. Hilton, initially unaware who Mother Teresa was, turned down the role because of a prior commitment to star as a talking handbag in the upcoming Disney release "Rodeo Drivin'." When she was eventually told that Mother Teresa was part Indian, Ms. Hilton is reported to have exclaimed "Okay, that sounds perfect...It will be like Dances With Wolves, but totally HOT!"
