Legendary singer Tom Petty recently criticized the Catholic Church in a new song titled "Playing Dumb" regarding the sex scandal that is currently surrounding some of its clergy members.

"Catholics, don't write me. I'm fine with whatever religion you want to have, but it can't tell anybody it's OK to kill people, and it can't abuse children systematically for God knows how many years," said Petty to Billboard in a recent interview, "If I was in a club, and I found out that there had been generations of people abusing children, and then that club was covering that up, I would quit the club."

The 63-year-old Florida performer further expressed his views on the Roman Catholic Church and what inspired him to make his new "Playing Dumb" song on his new album titled Hypnotic Eye.

"I just felt that I was being asked to play dumb," said Petty, "That, 'OK, well, they paid some money, so it's all over.' I don't trust that.

In his new song, Petty made the following controversial statements regarding the Catholic Church:

"For every confession that wasn't on the level/For every man of God that lives with hidden devils," according to the lyrics discovered in Petty's brand new song.

Petty then revealed his personal views on religion, especially Christianity and the followers of Jesus Christ in general.

"Religion seems to me to be at the base of all wars," said Petty, "I've nothing against defending yourself, but I don't think, spiritually speaking, that there's any conception of God that should be telling you to be violent. It seems to me that no one's got Christ more wrong than the Christians."

Petty is best known for being the lead singer of the rock band 'Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' since 1969 with hit songs like "Runnin' Down a Dream," "Free Fallin'" and "I Won't Back Down."

In addition, Petty was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.