|TOP|Following the outrage from UK and US Christian groups caused by Madonna’s controversial mock crucifixion on stage, the singer defended herself yesterday by saying Jesus wouldn’t have disapproved of her.

The 47-year-old further defended herself by saying it is part of an appeal to the audience to donate to Aids charities.

"I don't think Jesus would be mad at me and the message I'm trying to send," she told the New York Daily News.

"Jesus taught that we should love thy neighbour."

|AD|A Church of England statement asked why Madonna felt "the need to promote herself by offending so many people".

Madonna performed the ballad “Live To Tell” while wearing a crown of thorns, suspended from a giant mirrored cross on Sunday's opening night of her 51-date world tour in Los Angeles.

Images of poverty in the developing world were shown on video screens, while numbers ticked away to represent the 12 million African children orphaned by Aids.

David Muir of the Evangelical Alliance accused the singer of "blatant insensitivity".

"Madonna's use of Christian imagery is an abuse and it is dangerous," he said.

"She should drop it from the tour and people need to find their own means of expressing their disapproval."