http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/7982.html#
 

Madonna's 'crucifixion' in Rome irks the Vatican 


Posted on : 2006-08-07 | Author : Bharat Rathode 
News Category : Entertainment
 

 

The need to shock is something that Madonna just can't let go of. The
singer, on Sunday, in a concert in Rome, emulated a crucifixion, and also
symbolically showed a stand-off between Islam and Christianity while
performing the song Forbidden Love.

During the song, Madonna danced between two men, one of whom had a Star of
David painted on his chest and the other a crescent moon that symbolizes
Islam. She also donned a crown made of thorns and was mounted on a cross.

Madonna has earlier been accused of blasphemy by the Vatican, and she irked
the Pope further when she invited him for her performance. In her
quintessential style, Madonna belted out one controversial imagery after
another, symbolically showing the Pope's pictures along with those of former
Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. "Did you know two miracles have taken
place in Rome? Italy won the World Cup and the rain stopped before my show,"
she quipped to the audience.

Madonna, who abandoned her Catholic upbringing for Judaism offshoot Cabbala,
first invited the wrath of the Vatican in 1989, when her song Like a Prayer
showed her trying to seduce a black Jesus. The video also had crosses on
fire and statues crying tears of blood. Her latest stunt has irked not only
Catholic leaders but also Muslim ones.

"It is 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," said Father Manfredo Leone
of the Santa Maria Liberatrice church in Rome. "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," said Vatican Cardinal Ersilio Tonino.

Italy's Muslim League was also behind the Vatican on this one. "I think her
idea is in the worst taste and she'd do better to go home," said Mario
Scialoja, who heads the Muslim League in Italy. However, Madonna's publicist
Liz Rosenberg defended the act and said, "The context of Madonna's
performance on the crucifix is not negative nor disrespectful toward the
church."

Meanwhile, the outrageous acts have failed to dim the singer's popularity.
Over 70,000 fans attended the concert and though some were put off by the
crucifixion, most dismissed it as quintessential Madonna. "The crucifixion
was unnecessary and provocative. Because this is Rome, I wish she'd cut it
out. But it's Madonna, she's an icon, and that balances out her need to
provoke," said Tonia Valerio, a 39-year-old fan.

The venue of the performance, Olympic stadium, is two miles from the
Vatican. This is the only Italian stop that Madonna's Confessions tour has.

More fireworks are expected when the Italian-American singer hits Moscow,
where religious leaders have urged Christians to boycott the performance.
Madonna will be in Moscow on September 11. "This is not the first year this
lady has been mixing singing about human passions with Christian symbols -
crosses, statues of the Virgin, beads and now it's self crucifixion," said
Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, the deputy head of Moscow patriachate foreign
relations department. "This means the singer needs spiritual assistance," he
added. 
 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



--------------------------
Want to discuss this topic?  Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL 
PROTECTED]
--------------------------
Brooks Isoldi, editor
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

http://www.intellnet.org

  Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com
  Subscribe:    [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  Unsubscribe:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]


*** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has 
not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of 
The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT 
YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the 
included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of 
intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, 
techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other 
intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes 
only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material 
as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use 
this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' 
you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
For more information go to:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    [EMAIL PROTECTED]

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 



Reply via email to