Friday, August 04, 2006
CARDINAL TONINI IS ANGRY
Religious leaders in Italy criticized Madonna on Thursday for wearing a crown of thorns and singing while hanging from a mirrored cross on her "Confessions" tour.
The prospect of the scene being repeated at her concert Sunday in Rome's Olympic stadium, some two miles from the Vatican, prompted Catholic officials to denounce the act as a publicity stunt in bad taste.
"To crucify yourself in the city of the pope and the martyrs is an act of open hostility," Cardinal Ersilio Tonini was quoted as saying in the La Stampa daily Wednesday. "It's a scandal created on purpose by astute merchants to attract publicity."
Continue reading...
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Cardinal Tonini's language is a bit stronger in this report, and he has the backing of the Jewish and Islamic communities as well:
Cardinal Ersilio Tonino, speaking with the Pope's approval, was quoted by Italian newspaper La Stampa as saying, "This is a blasphemous challenge to the faith and a profanation of the Cross. She should be excommunicated. To crucify herself in the city of popes and martyrs is an act of open hostility."
In a show of religious solidarity, Muslin and Jewish leaders have also criticized the 47-year-old star-now a loyal follower of the Kabbalah faith.
Mario Scialoja, president of the Muslim World League in Italy, said, " Deplore it; we feel it is an act of bad taste. She would do better to go home."
Riccardo Pacifici, spokesman for Rome's Jewish community, added, "We Express solidarity with the Catholic world. It's a disrespectful act, and to do it in Rome is even worse."
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A picture of the cross scene is included in this report.
To be honest, it doesn't much resemble the crucifixion. Yes, I know she is taking pot-shots at Christianity, but is seems a lot closer to crass commercialism and bad taste than it does to blasphemy. Just another reason for Christians to ignore her. As though they needed another one.
