Leaders of a Catholic group are outraged by claims that Britney Spears is in talks to play the Virgin Mary in a spoof movie based on the birth of Christ.

French producers want the troubled pop star to take the lead role in new film Sweet Baby Jesus - about a pregnant 19-year-old who goes into labour alone on Christmas Eve. Officials at America’s Catholic League don’t want the kooky mother of two affiliated with the Virgin Mary-or anything else related to the Holy Bible.

President Bill Donohue tells the New York Daily News: “She is seriously miscast. She would be better suited to play the lead role in a flick called Monica (as in Lewinsky). If she did, the Catholic League would be delighted to send her a box of cigars.”