Papa don’t preach? Archbishop warns faithful about ‘immoral’ Madonna

An archbishop in Singapore has warned his flock not to support those who “denigrate and insult religions” ahead of a concert by pop legend Madonna. Archbishop William Goh said he had met government officials to express the church’s concerns about Sunday’s concert, which is part of the US star’s Rebel Heart tour. The concert will be the first by Madonna in largely conservative Singapore, as she was banned from performing in 1993 after police decided her performances were “objectionable to many on moral and religious grounds”.

[Christians should] not support the 'pseudo arts’ that promote sensuality, rebellion, disrespect, pornography, contamination of the mind of the young, abusive freedom, individualism at the expense of the common good, vulgarity, lies and half-truths.

Archbishop William Goh

In a statement posted on the diocese website, the archbishop said: “It is our moral obligation not to support those who denigrate and insult religions, including anti-Christian and immoral values promoted by the secular world. There is no neutrality in faith; one is either for or against. Being present (at these events) in itself is a counter witness." Singapore’s Media Development Authority has restricted the concert - being held at the 55,000-seat National Stadium - to those aged over 18 because of the sexual references.

Madonna Singapore