Pussy Riot, Mary and Madonna

From Wikipedia:

Pussy Riot wearing stuff they got off of etsy

On February 21, 2012, as a part of a protest movement against re-election of Vladimir Putin, three women from the group came to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, crossed themselves and began to perform a song. After less than one minute, they were escorted outside the building by guards. The film of the performance was later used to create a video clip for the song.
In the song, the group asked the "Theotokos" (Mother of God, i.e. the Virgin Mary) (rus. Богородица Bogoroditsa) to "drive Putin away". The song also describes the Russian Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow as someone who believes in Putin rather than in God. Kirill showed open support for Putin as a candidate before the presidential election on March 4.

I heard of this yesterday. Seems that this group is part of a Russian girl band called "Pussy Riot" (I don't judge) and now they are being held in detention awaiting trial under the charge of "hooliganism". The article continues with a condemnation from Patriarch Krill as well.

Speaking at a liturgy in Moscow’s Deposition of the Robe Church on March 21, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill I condemned Pussy Riot’s actions as "blasphemous", saying that the "Devil has laughed at all of us ... We have no future if we allow mocking in front of great shrines, and if some see such mocking as some sort of valour, as an expression of political protest, as an acceptable action or a harmless joke".

I feel for these girls. But I'm an American and have learned to accept all sorts of expression, no matter how grossly inappropriate, as a "right". The protest in the Church almost seems....sincere...compared to the ugly and brutal attacks we have on our religious icons.

Strike a pose

Turns out Pussy Riot has support from all quarters. In a strange twist, the Virgin Mary hasn't made her voice known but another Madonna has:

... American singer Madonna donned the band's trademark balaclava and stripped to a black bra to show their name on her back during a concert in Moscow on Tuesday night.

A fifty-year-old woman named for the Mother of God stripped to a bra! Now that's freedom of expression, AMERICAN STYLE!

I will pray for a peaceful solution to this debacle.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners...

UPDATE: Sentenced to 2 years++++++++++++++++++

I have been following this for the past week or so. Me not so smart. I know this. But it seems to me there are a couple of issues that are a bit confusing.
1. The Putin Administration is cracking down on freedoms that somehow were assumed when the Soviet Union dissolved. Here we go again?
2. Despite charges of blasphemy, it is also curious that the Russian government would be so concerned with anti-religious sentiment after the long history of anti-religionism.
I think the girls were right. Not the method, of course, but they seem to be more right as to the content of their protest than ever.
And I suspect they are right in their charge of the Church being more about Putin than God.
I noticed they gave credence to God, by the way.
Curious stuff.