Beauty pageant condemned

Jos, Nigeria

Religious leaders in Nigeria have condemned the Miss World beauty pageant, scheduled to be held this month in Abuja, Nigeria, as degrading to women and promoting morally questionable behavior.

?We can?t sanction the exploitation of women because of the search for money?, said Bishop Josiah Idowu Fearon, Anglican bishop of Kaduna in northern Nigeria.

Bishop Ignatius Kaigama, Catholic archbishop of Jos, said: ?We in Africa talk about beauty of character, person and culture, and do not try to exhibit and flaunt our nakedness in a very immodest manner.?

Nigeria expects to net $60 million (U.S.) from hosting the pageant.

Muslim groups have also condemned the beauty pageant and threatened to disrupt the event.

The Inter-faith Forum of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, which annually brings together Muslim and Christian leaders, also opposed it.