Tradition, Family and Property, York (PA),
November-December 1993, pages 9-10 (www.tfp.org)
"Madonna" Is Rebuffed in
The Argentine TFP
protested the presence of "Madonna" by issuing a denunciation of this
media darling and handing out thousands of flyers in the main areas of the
capital. In the flyer the TFP urged Catholics to request the outlawing of the
obscene "Madonna" show and to express their disapproval to its
sponsors.
According to the daily
media, the "Madonna" choreography included topless dancers and
simulations of sadomasochism and homosexuality.
Although she calls
herself a Catholic, Louise Veronica Ciccone,
"Madonna," has more than once defined Catholicism as "a
hypocritical and mean religion." On some of her music videos she makes
sacrilegious use of statues and crucifixes. Her pseudonym clearly alludes to
the name with which the Most Holy Virgin is designated in the Italian language.
Her degrading
presentations — termed "daring" and therefore "courageous and
marvelous" by elements of the media — provoked repulse in several countries
on her itinerary.
In
Shortly thereafter the
singer canceled her German show, alleging insurmountable technical problems.
In
Understandably, there was
widespread disapproval among the Argentine clergy and laity at the arrival of
"Madonna."
Cardinal Antonio Quarracino termed "Madonna" "pornographic
and blasphemous" and her presence and performance "offensive to the
Argentine woman." Msgr. Alfredo Nolasco,
secretary of the Bishops Conference, declared that "`Madonna' attacks the
dearest values of the Catholic Religion" and lamented that "many
members of society choose not to voice their shame at her presence because they
fear being labeled as authoritarian."
President Menem reproached the singer for her blasphemous use of the
sacred symbols of our religion.
Attorneys Guillermo Piuma, German Amadeo Voss and
Mariano Pinedo as well as Attorney General Dr.
Alejandro Molina requested a court suspension of her show, since it attacked
"the religious conscience" and harmed the psychological and social
identity of the youth, a violation of the International Convention of the
Rights of Children ratified by
As the Argentine TFP
stated in one of its declarations, "a veritable wave of amorality,
pornography and blasphemy is invading the country."
"These `artists' and
`shows,'" it affirmed, "are an intolerable
aggression to the deepest convictions of the Argentine people. They
destroy the youth, good customs and public morality. They are elements of a
profound cultural revolution taking place around the world."
"It is a sexual and
anarchic revolution," the declaration continued. "Unlike previous
revolutions, it does not aim to stir up the masses in order to attain its
goals. Rather, it strives to change the mentality of each Argentine by
accustoming him to the gross, the obscene and the blasphemous. In this way, it
hopes to undermine the foundations of the social order."
The subsequently issued
an appeal to all Catholics, reminding them that an inactive indignation is a
form of complicity. It exhorted them to express publicly their love for the
Most Holy Virgin and the Catholic Church and to demand efficacious government
action against the show.
The street campaigns of
the TFP could not be ignored by the media. The well-known TV entertainer
Marcelo Tinelli criticized the TFP on his
"Video-Match" program. He was tired of phone calls from people
attacking his imprudent support of "Madonna." Her show organizers, Productores Internacionales de
Rock & Pop, feeling the heat, stated in a communiqué that, as far as they
were concerned, "the groups claiming to be the defenders of Catholicism in
Argentina represent neither the Catholic population nor the youth, who wish to
attend the show."
Meanwhile — and for the
next three days — the switchboard of the TFP headquarters was swamped by well-wishers
from around the country.