Mafiosi are 'excommunicated', pope says

Reuters ^ | June 21, 2014 | Philip Pullella

[NYer]

SIBARI Italy (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Saturday took on one of Italy's most dangerous organised crime groups, calling it an example of "the adoration of evil" and saying Mafiosi "are excommunicated".

The pope, speaking about the 'Ndrangheta crime group during a mass in the southern Italy, issued the strongest attacks on organised crime since the late Pope John Paul lambasted the Sicilian Mafia in 1993.

"Those who in their lives follow this path of evil, as mafiosi do, are not in communion with God. They are excommunicated," Pope Francis said in impromptu comments at a mass before tens of thousands of people.

He told the crowd: "This evil must be fought against, it must be pushed aside. We must say no to it."

He branded the 'Ndrangheta as the "adoration of evil and contempt of the common good" and said the Church would exert its full force in efforts to combat organised crime.

"Our children are asking for it, our young people are asking for it. They are in need of hope and faith can help respond to this need," he said.

[SpirituTuo]

I find it curious that no matter what this Pope says or does, it is never good enough for his critics here on FR.

It is very sad.

For the Pope to tell an Italian they are excommunicated is a very big deal from a social point of view, even for a mobster.

For all of you Pope haters (colloquial and otherwise) out there, this was an important statement, and he deserves credit for calling these thugs out.

[all the best]

Pelosi is implicated in more murders that the Mafia and she has stolen trillions from USA citizens. She makes the worst Mafioso look like a boy scout.

[RichInOC]

Tommy D never had to deal with guys who could stand off and stab him to death with halberds.

[SevenofNine]

That true

Remember Joe Pesci character was full blood Italian

They couldn’t let other character in

[equalator]

I need the Pope to tell me this? I’m glad he did, but seriously it kind of goes without saying

[faithhopecharity]

yes. and an additional minor point...
I’ve only known one Mafia type .. but he was very much like what I’ve heard from others....
Mafia guys tend to behave courteously and they definitely have a code of honor... no lies ... no unwarranted harms to other people... strict honesty in dealings...
(just don’t cross them or fail to pay your debts, ha!)

if Nancy would act like a Mafia person, we’d all be 50 percent better off with her so-called “representation”

[faithhopecharity]

ps: which is to say, the Mafia wouldn’t let anyone like Pelosi in....they want far more honorable people...than that...

[all the best]

Good points. Also important: We have protection and defensed against Mafia and common criminals. We have the law. Pelosi and company are the law and from them we have no protection. They are true bullies. And they are well respected and honored.

[SevenofNine]

That reason why holes are in Desert where Vegas city problems are solved

You got do the job right to have package and hole dug up or you be there all night

[verga]

If there was a thread about the Pope walking on water the protestant would be: “Pope can’t swim.”

[SkyPilot]

Pope Francis says atheists can do good and go to heaven too!

"Pope Francis has good news for atheists. Jesus died and was raised for them as well. His redemptive embrace was for all, not just a chosen few.The choice to accept its reach is our own. The Holy Father was not teaching anything new. In fact, this hope that all who do not yet know God are not only capable of doing good - but will progress toward that knowledge of God by doing good - is ancient."

So atheists have an open door, but the Mafia is "Excommunicated."

Though the number of gay priests in general, and specifically among the Curia in Rome, is unknown, the proportion is much higher than in the general population. Between 20 and 60 percent of all Catholic priests are gay, according to one estimate cited by Donald B. Cozzens in his well-regarded The Changing Face of the Priesthood.

Are there heretical and apostate Protestants and Protestant churches. Absolutely. Absolutely, yes.

These are false teachers who have abandoned the true Gospel.

But what the pope is selling is that membership in the Roman Catholic church is the door to heaven, unless he says so and "Excommunicates" you.

That isn't the Gospel.

How does a person get to heaven?

But moreover, it absolutely floors me that the Vatican does not send out this "Excommunication" to the Kennedy's, Pelosi's, Kerry's of this world.

[livius]

Good! This is essentially saying that the whole organization is opposed to Catholic teachings, and therefore nobody who is a member can be in communion with the Church.

I don’t think he’s ready yet to apply it to the Democratic Party, although he should...

[SevenofNine]

I think he already did

[NYer]

I find it curious that no matter what this Pope says or does, it is never good enough for his critics here on FR.

Curious? No .. disheartening but not surprising. You need a dose of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

Resentment aimed at the pope is actually pointed at the Catholic Church. Leadership comes with a price. Let them hold their grudges. In reality, they are envious.

[Jmouse007]

"Michel Corleon, do you renounce Satan?" "I do!". This as he is in the process of settling ALL family "scores" and eliminating ALL of his "competition", consolidating the "families" power.

So does this now mean that the supposed "popes" of the RCC were wrong and that the capricious "gods"' of the RCC have changed their minds (like eating meat on Friday is a "mortal sin and if you do this and die you go straight to Hell... Then "opps, god changed his mind, it is no longer a sin and now OK to eat meat on Friday) the Italian mobster the Roman Catholic church has let skate over the centuries and allowed to be given "high masses" and to be burried in "consecrated ground" are to be disinterred, pulled out of "Purgatory" and heaven and sent to Hell?

no, don't be ridiculous? Remember all the "good stuff they did and all the money they donated to "the church"!

if "the pope" and "the RC church" were genuine and genuinely concerned about the matter of sin they would immediately excommunicate every RC Demoncrat politician who openly promotes the wholesale murder of the unborn via abortion along with the flagrant sin of openly supporting and institutionalizing Sodomite "marriage". The so-called "church" would also immediately cease it's ongoing, institutional wide policy promotion of breaking the law of the land along with the rule of law by tirelessly giving aid and shelter, "sanctuary" to illegal aliens, and doing everything within its power to promote and support the wholesale, lawless invasion of America by millions upon millions of ILLEGAL ALIENS. And then the "pope" and his religious minions have the unmitigated gall to berate, and chastise American CITIZENS who are opposed to amnesty for these illegal alien lawbreakers and who want them deported as being "unloving, "xenophobic", and "unchristian".

It will be a cold day in Hell before the so-called "popes" recant their position and change their theological minds and take action concerning rectifying any or all of the above... Until then, they will continue to turn a blind eye to the wicked actions and political positions of the RC Pelosies, Kennedy's and Kerrey's of this world. "Big poppie" will continue to grant convenient marriage annulments to the likes of the powerful "Kennedy's, et. al. Because, historically, the RCC and its "popes" have consistently been about maintaining power

[SpirituTuo]

Those things have already been said and taught about. He doesn’t need to pronounce excommunication publically for every Tom, Dick, Harry, and Nancy. Besides, every Catholic knows this:

“Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,” [CIC, can. 1398] “by the very commission of the offense,” [CIC, can. 1314] and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law. [Cf. CIC, cann. 1323-1324] The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.” (C.C.C. # 2272)

“A person who procures a successful abortion incurs an automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication.” [Code of Canon Law 1398]

The Pope doesn’t need to say abortion is wrong every time he opens his mouth. He does take specific events and times to re-emphasize certain things.

[SpirituTuo]

You also don’t know how excommunication is handled.

Some excommunications come directly from the Holy See, but very few, and for very specific reasons.

Most people excommunicate themselves automatically (latae sententiae).

For those excommunicated publicly, it is done by local bishops, and only after the person/group has gone through a trial, etc., where they have been given the opportunity to repent, or otherwise correct the situation.

From a great article I recommend you read:

It is interesting to note that this one technical term from the lexicon of Canon Law still fascinates the general public, even though it may be imperfectly understood. “You’re excommunicated!” sounds a lot more thrilling than any sentence that contains a word like “delict”, “process” or “rescript”.

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/features/2013/07/12/getting-excommunicated-is-much-harder-than-you-think/

[SpirituTuo]

Thanks for lumping so many disconnected ideas into one, clumsy, error-filled, rant.

1. Movies are movies, and don’t accurately represent truth.
2. Popes are real people, and do not require quotes.
3. Disciplines can be changes (eating meat on Friday), but dogmas can’t.
4. Attaching the label mobster to the church is ridiculous, the stream of consciousness that follows is equally ridiculous.
5. Donating to the Church is a duty, and is spiritually worthless if a person lives in a state of mortal sin, knowingly.
6. Please reference this article on how excommunication works so you will understand it and not drone on about it. (http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/features/2013/07/12/getting-excommunicated-is-much-harder-than-you-think/)
7. Your understanding of the relation between Church and state is flawed. Your statements are not verified by fact. Finally, the Church is entitled to its opinions and they are protected by the 1st Amendment. Please also see Psalm 146:9 and Exodus 22:21

Please become knowledgeable before your criticize.

[ReformationFan]

Warning to Michael Corleone-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zs61pakiIY

[Chesterbelloc]

Now he’s in REAL trouble.

His next mistake would be to suggest to Joe Pesci that he’s funny.

This post of yours is funny. You're a funny guy...