Catholic Association Of Journalists Protests BEHEMOTH Frontman's TV Gig

Poland's Catholic Association Of Journalists (Katolickie Stowarzyszenie Dziennikarzy, or KSD) has released a statement protesting BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski's involvement with the Polish version of the hit American singing competition "The Voice", appropriately named "The Voice Of Poland".

"The participation of Adam Darski a Satanist and outspoken enemy of Christian values contradicts the missionary nature of Polish television," the statement reads.

In a recent interview with Terrorizer magazine, Nergal stated about his new television gig, "It's going to be fun. The first black metal judge ever in history doing a mainstream thing, you know? People are going to freak out! Some are going to love it, some are going to fucking hate it. But that's what this music has always been about, right? To provoke, to cause different opinions. The more extreme opinions, the better, I think."

He added of the attention he has received in his home country, "This so-called celebrity life is not my environment at all, but I am a part of it if I want it or not. So it's been crazy. Then the whole case with my sickness and me getting out alive [Nergal was diagnosed with leukemia in August 2010 and underwent a bone marrow transplant procedure in December. Ed.], it just brought some extra attention to it. And there's definitely some people that want to make some money on it because it's a cool story for them to write about and stuff, but I was like, 'Okay, if they're going to make money, I want to have my share, too.' I was away from music and away from being active live for a good year, so yeah, I need to get something in return!"

It was previously reported in the Polish media that the producers of "The Voice Of Poland" were hoping that Nergal's presence on the program would attract a new audience as well as improve its chances of competing against rival television talent-show franchise "X Factor".

The American version of "The Voice" was a big hit for NBC and helped breathe new life into the careers of coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green.

Darski was found innocent last month of offending religious feelings in connection with a September 2007 incident when he reportedly called the Catholic Church "the most murderous cult on the planet" during the band's performance in Gdynia and tore up a copy of the Bible, calling it "a book of lies."

A Polish judge ruled on August 18 that Darski's ripping up of a Bible during a show was a form of artistic expression consistent with the style of his band.

Judge Krzysztof Wieckowski said he considered Darski's actions "a form of art." He added that the court had no intention of limiting freedom of expression or the right to criticize religion.