Madonna's crucifixion hurts church

Rome: Madonna's plans to stage a mock crucifixion during a Sunday concert in Rome have drawn fire from religious leaders, who have condemned the stunt as "an act of open hostility" toward the Roman Catholic Church.

During the concerts of her Confessions world tour, the American diva appears crucified on a mirrored cross while wearing a crown of thorns.

The prospect of the scene being repeated at the concert in Rome's Olympic stadium, 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 La Stampa daily on Wednesday.

"It's a scandal created on purpose by astute merchants to attract publicity," he added.

Muslim and Jewish leaders also condemned the fake crucifixion.

"It's not the first time Madonna is staging such an act. We deplore it," said the president of the Muslim World League in Italy, Mario Scialoja.

"We express solidarity with the Catholic world. It's a disrespectful act, and to do it in Rome is even worse," said spokesman for Rome's Jewish community, Riccardo Pacifici.

In May, the Catholic League in the US expressed its discontent for the stunt after Madonna performed it at the tour's opening concert in Inglewood, California.

"Knock off the Christ-bashing. It's just pathetic," said Catholic League president Bill Donohue said in a statement.

Still, tickets for the Rome concert were selling quickly, with only about 100 left by Thursday, news agency ANSA reported.

Following concerts throughout North America, the Confessions tour continues through September 21 with dates in Europe and Japan.

In an e-mail to Associated Press on Thursday, the singer's New York-based spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, said, "Madonna does not think Jesus would be mad at her, as his teaching of loving thy neighbor and tolerance is Madonna's message as well. The context of Madonna's performance on the crucifix is not negative nor disrespectful toward the church."