Poles pray to stop Madonna gig

WARSAW, Poland, July 7 (UPI) -- Some in predominantly Catholic Poland are planning protests, supported by mass prayers, to prevent U.S. pop star Madonna from staging a concert in Warsaw.

Lech Walesa, former Polish president and Solidarity union leader, joined protesters from church and nationalist organizations to oppose the Madonna gig scheduled for Aug. 15, the Catholic feast marking the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Polish Radio reported Tuesday.

Marian Brudzynski, head of the Pro-Polonia committee on faith defense and national traditions, plans to organize two weeks of prayers and an outdoor mass outside Warsaw City Hall in a bid to block Madonna's concert, which he described as a scandal.

Brudzynski referred to Madonna as an obscene singer.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski said he has no authority to ban the concert.