Bishop Objects To Crow Concert

A Roman Catholic archbishop has stepped down from the board of a children's charity because he objects to the political views of singer Sheryl Crow, who is set to perform in St. Louis at a benefit concert for the charity.

The Washington Post is reporting that Archbishop Raymond Burke has submitted his resignation as chairman of the board for the Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation, saying the decision to let Crow sing on Saturday left him no other choice.

The 45-year-old singer-songwriter is set to appear, along with comedian Billy Crystal and others, at the 19th annual benefit for the Bob Costas Cancer Center at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center.

Burke, who denounced Democrat John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election campaign because of his abortion-rights views, was apparently upset by a series of ads Crow did in Missouri last year in support of stem-cell research.

According to the newspaper, Burke said it was a "scandal" to let Crow sing at the event and it amounted to an act that could lead others to evil. He cited Crow's support for stem cell research and "procured abortion."

Costas, who will serve as host of Saturday's benefit, released a statement supporting the board's decision to accept the archbishop's resignation, the newspaper reported.

"I have never applied a litmus test, Catholic or otherwise, concerning the politics or religious beliefs of any of the generous performers who have come to St. Louis to help this worthy cause, nor do I intend to ... ," Costas wrote.

This is the second time this week that the Grammy winner has found herself in the middle of political controversy. At the White House Correspondents' Association dinner Saturday night in Washington, D.C., Crow and "An Inconvenient Truth" producer Laurie David got into a heated argument with presidential adviser Karl Rove on the issue of global warming. Crow and David had just concluded an Earth Day tour to speak out about global warming.