Vatican slams Madonna's 'crucifixion'
Vatican slams Madonna's 'crucifixion'
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Friday, 04, Aug 2006 06:56
Religious leaders in Rome have accused Madonna of coming "close to blasphemy" over a mock-crucifixion sequence featured as part of her current international Confessions Tour.
The queen of pop intends to perform the piece, in which she appears suspended on a giant glittery cross, wearing a crown of thorns, when she plays in Italy's capital on Sunday.
But Catholic, Muslim and Jewish leaders in Rome have accused the star of bad taste ahead of the show, which will take place just a stone's throw away from Vatican City.
Catholic priest Father Manfredo Leone of Rome's Santa Maria Liberatrice church told the Reuters news agency that the sequence was "disrespectful, in bad taste and provocative".
"Being raised on a cross with a crown of thorns like a modern Christ is absurd. Doing it in the cradle of Christianity comes close to blasphemy," he added.
The head of Italy's Muslim League, Mario Scialoja, joined in the condemnation of the singer, stressing that Madonna's ideas was "in the worst taste" and that "she'd do better to go home", while Riccardo Pacifici, a spokesman for Rome's Jewish community said that the star should have pulled the routine from her show.
Lapsed Catholic Madonna, who was criticised for the sequence during the US leg of her world tour, insists that the routine is part of her appeal to audiences to donate money to Aids charities.
"Madonna does not think Jesus would be mad at her, as his teaching of loving thy neighbour and tolerance is Madonna's message as well," said the star's publicist Liz Rosenberg.
It is not the first time 47-year-old Madonna has attracted the wrath of the Catholic church for her provocative performances.
The singer caused controversy in 1989 after releasing her Like a Prayer video, which featured her appearing with a black Christ-like figure amid burning crosses.