MADONNA - MADONNA CRITICISED BY RELIGIOUS LEADERS - AGAIN

Pop superstar MADONNA has again been criticised by religious leaders for her controversial 'crucifixion' stunt - this time by representatives of the German Catholic Church. The church is the latest in a long line of religious groups to slam the Confessions tour stunt, which sees the singer descend to the stage on a diamante-studded cross, while wearing a crown of thorns. Her performance in Rome, Italy earlier this month (AUG06) even prompted some Catholic leaders to call for her ex-communication. MANFRED BECKER-HUBERTI, spokesman for the Catholic Archbishop Of Cologne, says, "If somebody would portray Mohammed this way, it would cause a riot. It's particularly perfidious that Christian symbols can be blemished like that in a Christian country." The MATERIAL GIRL plays gigs in the German cities of Dusseldorf on Sunday (20AUG06) and in Hanover on Tuesday (22AUG06).