Spears criticized for sexy priest photo

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Britney Spears has incurred the wrath of the New York-based Catholic League for album cover art that shows her cozying up to what appears to be a priest.

Pictures of the scantily-clad singer sitting on the lap of the "priest" and leaning against a church confessional adorn the cover of Spears' new "Blackout" album, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

"This is all the puzzle pieces coming together. This girl is crashing," Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, told the newspaper. "She's not even allowed to bring up her own kids because she's not responsible enough. Now we see she can't even entertain."

A call to Spears' label, Jive Records, was not returned, the News said.

"Blackout," which features Spears' new single "Gimme More," went on sale Tuesday.

The album's release and the controversy accompanying it comes as Spears battles with ex-husband Kevin Federline over the custody of their two baby sons.