MADONNA PULLS A KANYE:

MADONNA PULLS A KANYE: Catholics, Christians enraged by latest concert
shenanigans
      Prince (a practicing Jehovah's witness), the former king of
provocative concert performances cleaned up his act due to religious
conversion and does not perform some of his old songs with lyrics that
he believes would be too mature for some in his cross-generational
audience. He should have advised Madonna befor her world tour kick off
last Sunday.
     
      Madonna may have the same name as the Mother of Jesus, but she is
nothing like The Virgin.  In Kanya-esque fashion, at the kick-off of her
Confessions tour at the Forum in Inglewood, CA, she bore a crown of
thorns as she was lowered to the stage suspended from a blinged-out
cross—a shocking mockery of the “crucifixion” that has enraged some
Catholics.

      The diamond and Swarovski-crystal encrusted cross was described as
“disco-fied” and will be a centerpiece for the world tour.  It is
rumored to have cost $10 million, befitting the budget of a material
girl.

      In a statement from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil
Rights, condemning the superstar's behavior,
Madonna was asked to stop "Jesus bashing."

      Disgust with the shenanigan has crossed the waters.  According the
hte Associated Baptist Press, in England, an evangelical Protestant
leader also condemned the display. David Muir, public policy director
for the Evangelical Alliance, said Madonna's use of Christian imagery
"is an abuse and it is dangerous," according to the Times of London.
"She should drop it from the tour, and people need to find their own
means of expressing their disapproval."

     Bishop Kenneth Ulmer of Faithful Central Bible Church, which owns
and conducts worship services at The Forum, had not responded to our
request for comment by press time.

      This is not the first time Madonna has come underfire for her
risque creative choices.  Christians squirmed over radical concepts she
used in the “Like A Prayer Video” years ago.

      Other stars have used Christian imagery metaphorically as well,
including Michael Jackson who simulated the crucifixion at a concert in
London and Kanye West who posed as Jesus on the cover of Rolling Stone,
for example. 

      More than for shock value, it is possible that her intent was to
make social commentary about political figures (i.e., her views about
the president, Adolf Hitler and Tony Blair whose images were flashed
across the screen.)  However, the talented 47-year-old pop icon's
messages may have been diminished by her acts that followed--
being surrounded by men performing S and M like gestures before a cross
generational audience.

      Why she is drawn to Christian symbols is not certain.  Raised
Catholic, Madonna professes to practice Kaballah which claims insight to
divine nature and access to all wisdom and knowledge in the universe.