Climate control stalls engine!

[slim66]

I was driving to work today with the heat on. the Climate control was set for low fan, with the middle switch on. For the past week or so, I've noticed some (what sounded to me like) fan noise when I put the heat on.
Today, the noise suddenly got very loud (a binding, whining type noise), and the car stalled.
With the Climate control completely off, the car seems fine. If I put the climate control on any setting, including economy, the car stalls.
Any ideas? Will I be damaging the car if I drive it with the climate control off?

Thanks,
Slim