Dutch churchman praises online contest for Christian soccer star

Published: 2006-06-13

OXFORD, England (CNS) -- A Dutch bishops' spokesman has welcomed the launch of an online contest to elect a Christian soccer star during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. "There's a lot of resistance to the idea that a footballer can also be a Christian," said Pieter Kohnen, spokesman for the Utrecht-based Dutch bishops' conference. "It's good to show that players who'll become superstars during this tournament are also spiritual people who believe in Christ. It's a great way of evangelizing where you wouldn't normally expect it." Gristelijk, a group of Dutch Catholic and Protestant teachers and lecturers, published a list of 11 leading Christian soccer stars on its Web site, www.gristelijk.nl. Visitors can vote for their favorite in the site's right column. Kohnen said he hoped the players, who include several Catholics, would speak openly about their faith.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .