The Irish rock star Bono and the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia are catching heat for the center’s decision to give the U2 lead singer its Liberty Medal.

The Tax Justice Network says the medal — given to those who foster a belief in justice, fairness, self-governance, and a balance between individual rights and communal responsibility — is inappropriate given the fact that U2 recently relocated its music-publishing company from Ireland to the Netherlands to lower its tax burden.

Bono has been a major force at several charities that work to improve conditions in Africa — and has made headlines for his campaign to have industrialized countries direct more money to Africa to alleviate poverty.

Ireland is one of the countries Bono has criticized for failing to support Africa, according to an essay on the Web site Slate.

Such a stance is hypocritical if Bono himself is taking steps to decrease the amount of money he pays in taxes to the Irish government, the Tax Justice Network says.

“Bono participates in the worldwide offshore tax-evasion system that is to a large extent responsible for the poverty of Africa,” the organization said in a written release. “The African Union says tax dodging by foreign companies costs it $150 billion a year – three times what it receives in aid.”

What do you think? Should Bono’s business decisions be held to a different standard than his advocacy work? Or does the relocation of U2’s music publishing company send a mixed message? Click on the comments link below this post to share your thoughts.