Posted on 02/06/2006 1:36:03 PM PST by SAMS
ROME (Reuters) - Pop star Michael Jackson could sing some of the prayers written by the late Pope John Paul, the head of the music company coordinating the project said on Monday.
Father Giuseppe Moscati of the Edizioni Musicali Terzo Millennio, which specializes in church music and organizes musical events at the Vatican, said his company had the rights to 24 of Pope John Paul's prayers and wanted to put together a group of international artists to set them to music.
"We have been contacted by people close to Michael Jackson who have expressed interest and we are thinking about it," Moscati said.
He dismissed the recent controversy surrounding Jackson, who is living in Bahrain after a Californian court acquitted him of child molestation charges last June.
"He has been cleared of all charges," Moscati said.
"As a celebrity he is perhaps a bit remote from the teachings contained in the Pope's prayers. But if he can help us put together a group of singers that fulfil the criteria of the project then we'll study the proposal," he said.
Vatican deputy spokesman Father Ciro Benedettini said the Vatican was not involved in the initiative.
The Catholic Church has been rocked by a U.S. priestly sexual abuse scandal that began in Boston in 2002, when it emerged that priests who had abused children and teenagers were transferred from parish to parish instead of being defrocked.
Jackson, originally from Indiana, rose to fame as a child with his brothers in the Jackson 5, and became one of the world's most successful singers. "Thriller", from 1982, was one of the biggest-selling albums of all time
Didn't see this posted anywhere else. But this travesty needs to be STOPPED!
"Blaaaauuuuuuugghhhh!!!"
When the Pope said these prayers, did he grab his crotch? Or is that something MJ will throw in, to "make it his own"?
"He dismissed the recent controversy surrounding Jackson, who is living in Bahrain after a Californian court acquitted him of child molestation charges last June."
ROFL
I can't believe the Catholic Church would be so brain dead as to make itself the butt (no pun intended) of the ridicule which would follow such a choice.
Though MJ was escaping into an 'Islamic religious identity'. . .so to speak. . .
Follow the $$$$.
If B16, in any way, allows this to continue then he's lost BOATLOADS of credibility forever - no apologies, no forgiveness.
Maybe MJ is thinking about buying up the entire Roman Catholic Church song catalog. It would make a nice addtion to the Beatles and others he owns (for now)./sarc
Will he wear his burka?
I agree, the Catholic church collaborating with a child molester/freak in Muslim garb............singing PJP2's beautiful prayers while grabbing his crotch. Good thing the American Bishops won't be deciding this.
I am a Roman Catholic and I would be furious if this comes to pass.
Ironic, isn't it.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-02-06T145305Z_01_L06390140_RTRUKOC_0_US-POPE-JACKSON.xml&archived=False
Given the lack of a link, I had to Google it up myself before I could believe it. The Vatican just doesn't seem at all worried about being viewed as a major promoter of child molestation. First, Cardinal Bernard Law is "punished" by being given a cushy Vatican post and allowed to participate in the installation of the new Pope. Now this!
I don't believe the vatican is endorsing this...
This is a private initiative.
"Vatican deputy spokesman Father Ciro Benedettini said the Vatican was not involved in the initiative."
The question has to be asked...
Why?
Father Giuseppe, take a walk around the block, get some fresh air and try to clear your head.
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