Polish group protests Madonna concert scheduled for Feast of the Assumption

Warsaw, Poland, Jul 8, 2009 / 22:01 pm

A Polish religious group is planning prayer sessions to protest a concert by the American pop star Madonna scheduled for August 15, the Marian Feast of the Assumption, in Warsaw.

Marian Brudzynski, head of the Committee for the Defense of the Faith and Tradition, said his group would continue its “crusade” with daily prayer sessions outside Warsaw city hall beginning August 1.

"We'll start with a group of a few hundred people, but I'm convinced that the square in front of city hall will end up filled with pious Poles,” he told Agence France Presse.

Brudzynski, an independent local councilor who previously represented the Catholic political party the League of Polish Families, has advocated that city hall ban Madonna’s first-ever show in Poland.

Concert organizers reported that the 70,000-ticket event was almost sold out, the AFP reports.

In the past Madonna has held racy shows and has performed a mock crucifixion on stage.

Madonna’s name is also an alternative title for the Virgin Mary. Mary is particularly venerated in the strongly Catholic Poland, where she was declared Queen of Poland 350 years ago.