Madonna dances around burning crosses in the video for 'Like A Prayer'

MANILA, Philippines – The recent controversy relating to the art installation, "Kulo," which was exhibited at the main gallery of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), prior to it being shut down on Aug. 9, is but the latest in popular culture that have caught the church's ire.

In the past few years, numerous artworks including paintings, movies, TV shows, music and music videos, personalities, have been at the receiving end of the church’s indignation. Here are some of them.

1. "Like A Prayer" – music video; starring American singer Madonna

Why it became controversial:

The video includes scenes of a scantily clad Madonna dancing erotically amid burning crosses. The video also seemingly mocked miraculous occurrences even as it made use of the religious phenomena known as the stigmata. The video also shows the singer passionately kissing what is supposed to be a saintly figure – purportedly inspired by St. Martin de Porres.

How the church reacted:

The Vatican condemned the music video after its release, deeming its use of Christian imagery “blasphemous.” Several religious groups followed the Vatican’s move protesting its broadcast. Reverend Donald Wildmond of the American Family Association, a Christian group, threatened to have his 380,000 subscribers boycott Pepsi (which Madonna was endorsing at the time) until the company junked Madonna.

Pepsi subsequently canceled the controversial singer's contract, though she was allowed to retain her signing fee.

Who won:

Madonna.

“Like A Prayer” became her seventh number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It also topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Sweden and the United Kingdom, among others.

In 2008, in a concert in Rome, Madonna continued to taunt the Vatican by dedicating a performance of her song “Like a Virgin” to Pope Benedict.

“We are all children of God,” she reportedly bellowed to cheers of her fans.

2. "Da Vinci Code" – book; written by Dan Brown

Why it became controversial:

It champions a controversial school of thought that Jesus is mere man and that he married Mary Magdalene. According to the book, their descendants are said to be living somewhere in Europe today and that the Catholic Church is suppressing this knowledge, going as far as to commit murder.

How the church reacted:

Various religious groups raised concern about how the book’s supposed “heretical contents” are misleading Christians. When the movie came out, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state, said: "Boycotting this film is the least we can do. The book and the film are a potpourri of nonsense, a phantasmagorical cocktail of inventions."

Who won:

Dan Brown.

The novel became a worldwide bestseller, selling 80 million copies as of 2009. As of 2010, it is the best selling English language novel of the 21st century and the second biggest selling novel of the 21st century in any language.

4. "The Last Temptation of Christ" – film adaption of the 1953 novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis; directed by Martin Scorsese

Why it became controversial:

Its main point is that Jesus, while free from sin, was still subject to temptation including lust. This results in the film depicting Christ "imagining" himself engaging in sexual activities.

How the church reacted:

To say that it had caused mass outrage is an understatement. On Oct. 22, 1988, a French Christian fundamentalist group launched Molotov cocktails inside a Parisian movie theater where the film was being shown. The attack injured 13 people, four of whom were severely burned.

The leader of Christian Solidarity, a Roman Catholic group that had promised to stop the film from being shown, said, "We will not hesitate to go to prison if it is necessary."

In 1989, Albuquerque high school teacher Joyce Briscoe showed the film to history students at a High School, causing parents and the local Christian broadcaster KLYT to raise, err, hell.

The film was banned or censored for several years in some countries including Turkey, Mexico and Chile.

As of July 2010, the movie is still banned in the Philippines and Singapore.

Who won:

The church.

5. "The Priest" – movie; directed by Antonia Bird,  screenplay by Jimmy McGovern

Why it became controversial:

The story revolves around a conservative Catholic priest and his secret life as a homosexual.

How the church reacted:

The Catholic Church in Ireland were very vocal about having the film banned from theatrical distribution. The country's film censor disagreed and the film was released with an 18 and above certificate.

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights also expressed their outrage over the film's subject matter, calling for all their members to boycott anything Disney-related.

Who won:

The church.

Though it won the People's Choice Award at the 1994 Toronto International Film Festival, and was named Best New British Feature at the 1994 Edinburgh International Film Festival, and won the Teddy Award at the 1995 Berlin International Film Festival, the film quickly disappeared with nary a whimper.

6. Sinead O'Connor  - artist, musician

Why she became controversial:

On Oct. 3, 1992, O'Connor appeared on “Saturday Night Live” as a guest. She sang an acappella version of Bob Marley's "War," which she said she intended as a protest over the sexual abuse committed by the Roman Catholic Church. While singing “evil,” she furthered her performance art piece by tearing apart a photo of Pope John Paul II in front of the camera. She then said, "Fight the real enemy."

How the church reacted:

The Vatican was surprisingly quiet about O’Connor’s actions but various Christian believers urged for the banning of O’Connor’s music eventually driving the pop star into oblivion.

Who won:

Even.

On September 1997, in an interview with the Italian weekly newspaper Vita, O'Connor asked the Holy Father for forgiveness. She claimed that her attack on the photo had been "a ridiculous act, the gesture of a girl rebel," which she did "because I was in rebellion against the faith, but I was still within the faith."

On March 2010, with the Catholic Church facing a raging sexual abuse scandal that has spread across Europe, Pope Benedict XVI issued a rare apology to victims and their family members. He, however, didn't outline a specific disciplinary action or changes in Vatican policies to prevent future incidents.