Cardinal blasts `satanic' music

CARDINAL Joseph Ratzingcr, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, this week claimed that rock music was Satanic in nature. He urged the industry to "purify" this brand of music, and implored young people not to listen to it.
Addressing musicians of the Vatican's St Cecilia Academy in Rome, the conservative Cardinal said that hard rock music "destroys the human soul" and is unsuitable for Christians because it "attracts people in another direction" away from the Church.
Cardinal Ratzinger was adding his voice to two previous accusations from leading Churchmen that bands such as the Rolling Stones and the Beatles in the 1960s often proved to be inspired by Satanism. Vatican officials identified some of the "worst offenders" as Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath and AC/DC.
Meanwhile, the former secretary of a leading cardinal warned this week that followers of the "prince of darkness" had penetrated "the court of Saint Peter".
Fr Malachi's comments, In the American review Fatima Crusader, confirm new alarmist claims by controversial Zambian-burn Archbishop Emanuel Milingo, now an official at the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Migrants.
Archbishop Milingo had said followers of Satan could be found in "several Roman Curia offices".
Cardinal Ratzinger this week reluctantly agreed to stay on as head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. The 69year-old German theologian said he would not mind if someone younger took over, but for now the Pope had asked him to remain.
BY VIVIANE HEWITT AND PIERS MCGRANDLE