MAN BITES TOWN

I am the pastor of a small Protestant church and hardly qualify as a post-modern trendy. But I think Harry Shearer missed the point about Madonna (“An Immaterial Girl,” June 16).

So what is the issue? Could it be that by taking on the sensual and materialistic shadow side of our culture and rubbing our noses in it, she has become a sort of vicarious atonement for us all? Kids find her liberating. Adults have their worst fears and secret lusts paraded before them. The money changers rub their hands gleefully. All the while a crucifixion squad waits in the wings for its turn to sacrifice another blond American icon.

Let’s keep her in our prayers!

MARIO DE FERRARI

Anaheim