Madonna In A Muddle
The Princess of Pop has provoked a backlash from some Catholic circles, as the date of her debut concert in Poland is also a solemn day of devotion to the biblical Madonna.
The feisty American singer is due to play Warsaw's Bemowo Airport on August 15th, which is indeed the Marian Feast of the Assumption. As always, thousands of pilgrims will make their way to the monastery of Czestochowa, which is the guardian of Poland's most miraculous icon - the Black Madonna.
"The concert of a highly perverse singer who calls herself ‘Madonna’ is deeply humiliating to Warsaw residents and Poles in general," declared right wing MP Marian Budzynski in a letter to the Mayor of Warsaw.
"August 15 is a symbolic date. It's not a coincidence that Madonna booked that day for her concert in Poland. It's a provocation,” he continued.
Madonna has angered Catholics groups many times with her raunchy double-entrendres and mock crucifixion antics.
However, it is highly unlikely that Madonna will be prodded to change the date, given that she is due to play in Prague on the 13th August and Munich on the 18th.
Furthermore, a recent survey revealed that only 3% of Poles between the age of 24 and 34 are intent on leading their lives as Catholics. So angry letters to the Mayor of Warsaw are unlikely to cause great waves.