Catholic leaders blast Madonna and Ritchie

Madonna and her film-maker husband Guy Ritchie have infuriated religious chiefs following their decision to attend a party dressed as a nun and the Pope respectively - at a time when Pope John Paul II is becoming increasingly frail.

Madonna and Ritchie celebrated the Jewish holiday of Purim by dressing up for a Kabbalah bash in London last Thursday - angering Catholic leaders.

America's Catholic League president William Donahue says: "It just goes to show you what a moral slug this man (Ritchie) is that he would get dressed up as the Pope at a time like this.

"We're quite disappointed. We Catholics thought we had finally gotten rid of the witch when she (Madonna) discovered Kabbalah."

However, Madonna's publicist says: "No disrespect was intended."