One of my favorite music videos from the 80s, Like a Prayer was actually seen as extremely controversial when it came out. Madonna, wearing a tight-fitting dress, makes out with a statue of a black Jesus who has come to life, watches as a black man found at a murder scene is blamed for the crime. There's a stigmata scene, a burning cross, and the lyrics have sexual euphamisms about blow jobs in the same context as God.
"When I left home at 17 and went to New York, which is the city with the most sinners, I renounced the traditional meaning of Catholicism in terms of how I would live my life. But I never stopped feeling the guilt and shame that are ingrained in you if you are brought up Catholic."
I've never been a fan of Madonna, at all. One or two songs have made their way to my music library. This one really touches me as an ex-Catholic and ex-Catholic school girl. I'm not a religious person, but I've always been touched by religious imagery. Lady Gaga has a lot of Catholic symbols in her videos as well and it's actually part of the reason of love them. It's occurred to me that no matter how much I distance myself from the Catholic faith, I will always be obsessed with it, whether I'm debating Catholic ideals or enjoying beautiful Catholic artwork. You follow the Catholic church whether it's with a candle or a club.
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