Italian Roman Catholics, fed up with spam, hackers, viruses and slow connections, have begun a search for an Internet intervention patron saint to protect them. The Web site, www.santiebeati.it , reportedly has been logging about 5,000 visitors a day who cast their votes for their choice of the Internet patron saint.

So far, votes are recorded for Saint Clare of Assisi (a nun who is claimed to have seen visions), Archangel Gabriel (the bearer of news to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus), and Saint Isadore of Seville, who is credited with writing the first encyclopedia in the world. Also in the running are reported to be Saint John Bosco, a Italian priest who promoted learning for children in the 1800s, Maximilian Kolbe, a 20th century Polish priest who began a radio station and planned to build a film studio to spread the Gospel, and Saint Alphonsus Liguori, an 18th century author and writer. Ironically, these Saints just happen to be Italian, which may skew the voting results.

According to Francesco Diani, the creator of the Web site, six nominees will be chosen from the total of the votes before Easter, and their names will be given to the Vatican's Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Whether the Vatican will choose a saint for the Internet has not been confirmed one way or the other.

Diocese members polled are reported to be very much in favor of appointing an Internet Patron Saint, a fact that is not lost on the Catholic Church. Public opinion of the church and its policies are perhaps even more important as the church struggles to overcome the vast amount of negative press it has received recently.