"What's in a Kiss?" Catholic News Service Read Time 1 Minute Issues and Ideas Catholic News Service published an op-ed by Mathew N. Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross, which explores the morality of commercial gain in response to an advertisement by Benetton, an Italian fashion retailer. The advertisement displays Pope Benedict XVI kissing Imam Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb of Cairo"s al-Azhar Mosque. After the Vatican denounced the image, Benetton excused it by explaining that it is a part of the company’s promotion of its “unhate campaign.”Schmalz explains, “The issue then goes beyond simple understandings of ‘consent’ but to deeper critiques of ‘commodification’" from a Christian perspective. If the Benetton campaign were left to stand, one could envision the Pope's picture being used to sell things like scarves and sneakers.” Read this op-ed in the Catholic News Service. This "Holy Cross in the News" item is by Sara Bovat '14. More Stories Image Go to Story Enjoy the Holy Cross Yule Log Image Go to Story All I Want For Christmas is A Ghost Story Image Go to Story Holy Cross 2025: The Year in Photos View All Stories
