With the future of her son's adoption still to be finalised, one might have imagined that Madonna would have wanted to keep controversy surrounding him to a minimum.
But in a move that is likely to upset David Banda's Christian family - and which could have repercussions for her adoption of the three-year-old Malawian orphan - the singer has chosen to raise the boy as a Kabbalahist.
Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie have been secretly taking David to Friday evening meetings at the West End headquarters of the Jewish sect that she helps finance.
While Madonna is said to be delighted that David is well liked at the centre, the news that he is being instructed in the controversial teachings may not go down well in the Malawian court when it finally rules on the adoption next month.
"Madonna and Guy have been taking David to Kabbalah and he is very much a part of their Friday night ritual," says a source.
"David goes with Guy and the children, Lourdes and Rocco, for prayers and teachings. Madonna turns up later for the meal."
David has already been seen wearing a red Kabbalah bracelet on his wrist and Madonna has previously said: "I believe in Jesus and I study the Kabbalah, so I don't see why he can't too."
The news that David is to be raised in what some consider an unorthodox, money-making cult will only add to the furore surrounding Madonna's attempts to finalise the adoption.
David's peasant father Yohane Banda who gave him up for adoption after his wife died, is a devout Christian.
He said yesterday: "I expect my children to belong to the same church as me. To follow in my footsteps." A spokesman for Madonna declined to comment.
