Pope singles out
Madonna for criticism

Plus: Michael Moore to go after hackers

Stuart Ramson / AP file

Madonna has come under scrutiny from the Vatican.

By Jeannette Walls

MSNBC

updated 2:57 a.m. ET June 21, 2004

Madonna might start singing, “Pope, Don’t Preach.”

The lapsed-Catholic diva has come under scrutiny from the Vatican because of her support of Kabbalah. The former Material Girl has become the world’s highest-profile member of the Kabbalah Centre, a controversial offshoot of Judaism, and has even taken on the Jewish name Esther. But now, the Vatican is holding a special summit with Catholic leaders from around the world, hammering out a way to deal with so-called “New Age” religions and fads that pose a “threat” to Christianity.

The council, which met last week, singled out “Kabbalah as espoused by Madonna” — as well as a number of other faddish religions, according to a report.

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“In the past, the Pope has criticized Madonna for the contents of her concerts,” says cult expert Rick Ross, who has closely followed the activities of the Kabbalah Centre. “Now, ironically, it’s become a theological issue.”

Caught in the Web
IMAGE: Moore
Jennifer Graylock / AP file
Michael Moore says that hackers have been breaking into his Web site. And he says he’ll sic the law on them.

The gadfly filmmaker, who is bringing his controversial, Bush-bashing “Fahrenheit 9/11” to theaters later this week, has been showing clips of the flick on the Internet. But he says, “some very sophisticated individuals have been hacking into and shutting down our Web site. It is an hourly fight to keep it up. We are going to find out who is doing this and we are going to pursue a criminal prosecution.”

What’s more, according to Moore, a theater owner in Illinois received death threats when it was revealed he was going to show the movie. “Not a day goes by where we don’t have some new battle to fight thanks to those who are still working overtime to keep people from seeing this film,” writes Moore. “What’s their problem? Are they worried about something?”

Notes from all over
IMAGE: Crowe
Sean Gallup / Getty Images file
Russell Crowe is up to his he-diva ways again. The actor infuriated cast and crew of “The Cinderella Man” by “blocking people out of his dressing room with black curtains, forbidding crew to use his gym and giving no warning when he chose not to turn up on [the] set,” reports IMDB.com. “Crowe was also a no-show on set when he had toothache,” according to the Daily Sport. “He gave no notice, just didn’t show. The entire crew showed up but couldn’t work.” . . .Miramax, which is rumored to be downsizing, has pulled out of U.S. distribution of “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.” . . . . Guy Pearce says he’s a difficult guy to live with. So difficult that the “L.A. Confidential” star and his wife of seven years, Kate Mestitz, live apart. “I’m a moody b-----d,” Pearce told The Scottish Daily Record. "Kate and I don’t even live in the same house. . . . We lived together for a short while in the beginning but she said, ‘Look, it’s really better if you stay somewhere else.’ I want us to move in together again but she’s not sure if she wants to. She’s got used to seven years of independence. I guess it serves me right.”