Mafiosi are 'excommunicated', pope says

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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.

news.yahoo.com/mafiosi-excommunicated-pope-says-151122053.html;_ylt=AwrBJR_AsaVTY1QAwG7QtDMD
 
In the final Mass of his visit to the Diocese of Cassano all’Jonio, Francis condemns the idolatry of the Mafia organization because “it is the worship of evil and contempt for the common good”. "Those who have this evil path in their lives, are not in communion with God, are excommunicated. The feast of Corpus Christi means “worshiping Christ” and walking “behind Him”, in faith and in charity. We must "encourage lifestyles and initiatives that relate to the needs of the poor and outcast. “Witness to concrete solidarity with the brothers and sisters, especially those most in need of justice, hope, tenderness, the tenderness of the Eucharistic Lord”.

More…
 
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/i...dit_Kyle_Burkhart_CNA_5_CNA_1_6_14.jpgVatican City, Jun 21, 2014 / 11:03 am (CNA).- In his homily at the Saturday evening vigil mass during his day trip to Italy’s southern Calabria region, Pope Francis denounced the dishonesty and violence perpetrated by members of the local mafia.
Code: 
“When adoration of the Lord is substituted by adoration of money, the road to sin opens to personal interest ... When one does not adore the Lord, one becomes an adorer of evil, like those who live by dishonesty and violence,” Pope Francis said on June 21 at the outdoor mass in Sibari, Italy.

“Your land, which so beautiful, knows the signs of the consequences of this sin. The ‘Ndrangheta (Calabrian mafia) is this: adoration of evil and contempt of the common good. This evil must be fought, must be expelled. It must be told no,” he urged.

Those who have chosen the “evil road, such as the mobsters” are “not in communion with God. They are ‘excommunicated’,” he said.

His homily, preached for the feast of the Corpus Christi focused on the importance of adoring God alone.

“And, for this faith, we renounce Satan and all of his temptations; we renounce the idols of money, vanity, pride and power. We, Christians, do not want to adore anything or anyone in this world except Jesus Christ, who is present in the Holy Eucharist,” he emphasized.

Christians adore God “who is love” and who “in Jesus Christ has given himself for us, who has offered himself on the cross for the expiation of our sins and by the power of this love is risen and lives in the Church.”

A Christian’s adoration of Jesus present in the Eucharist will also bear fruit in fraternal charity, noted Pope Francis. “The people that adores God in the Eucharist is the people that walks in charity.”

The Holy Father urged the congregation to “witness to concrete fraternal solidarity” in families, parishes, and ecclesial movements.

“The Lord Jesus does not cease to raise up gestures of charity in his people who are journeying!” he exclaimed.

Furthermore, it is the Eucharist that unites the followers of Jesus, making them “one family, the People of God gathered around Jesus, the bread of life.”

“If you adore Christ and walk behind him and with him, your diocesan Church and your parishes will grow in faith and in charity, in the joy of evangelization,” he encouraged.

“You will be a Church in which fathers, mothers, priests, religious, catechists, children, the elderly, (and) young people walk together, one alongside the other, supporting one another, helping one another, loving one another as brothers, especially in moments of difficulty.”

The pontiff also repeated his much-used encouragement to young people. “I have said it before and I say it again now: do not let your hope be stolen!” he exclaimed. “Adoring Jesus in your hears and remaining united to him you will know how to oppose evil, injustice, violence with the force of good, truth and beauty.”

Pope Francis concluded his homily by invoking Mary, the “woman of the Eucharist,” who will “help you remain united, also by means of your witness, so that the Lord will continue to give life to the world.”
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I wonder if this excommunication of a non religious group is done verbally or on paper as in a ‘Bull’. :confused:
 
WilT said:
I wonder if this excommunication of a non religious group is done verbally or on paper as in a ‘Bull’. :confused:
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He is saying that through their actions, the individual members have excommunicated themselves. It isn’t necessary for the Church to state it. It is the same as one who participates in an abortion; you are excommunicated by your actions, not by papal decree.
 
Timothysis said:
He is saying that through their actions, the individual members have excommunicated themselves. It isn’t necessary for the Church to state it. It is the same as one who participates in an abortion; you are excommunicated by your actions, not by papal decree.
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I believe this is true only if the ex-communicable act is stated in canon law. Then it doesn’t need to be (re)stated or proclaimed. Otherwise it is a ferendae sententiae excommunication and is normally done by bishops or the Pope.

But either ferendae sententiae or latae sententiae can be lifted. In this case it would have to be lifted by the Pope since it was imposed by him.
 
I wonder if this is valid. The article posted says he made impromptu comments at Mass. Is that sufficient of itself? Or was he sort of speaking for effect. “What these people are doing is so wrong that they’re out of communion with the Church” rather than formally excommunicating them?

If it is a valid excommunication, would it matter that it was said at a huge public Mass? Could he do the same thing at a small weekday Mass? Like at the end of his homily say “oh, by the way, I excommunicate XYZ.”
 
so, are the Mafioso’s excommunicated as a group, individually, and is it done by word, decree or in writing. Still not clear.
 
WilT said:
No kiddin!
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Although I understand your frustration, but it shows the lack of humility of the human while we seek to keep others from the path of righteousness, the Father patiently waits for conversion.
 
ProVobis said:
I believe this is true only if the ex-communicable act is stated in canon law. Then it doesn’t need to be (re)stated or proclaimed. Otherwise it is a ferendae sententiae excommunication and is normally done by bishops or the Pope.

But either ferendae sententiae or latae sententiae can be lifted. In this case it would have to be lifted by the Pope since it was imposed by him.
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One doesn’t need to be formally excommunicated to be separated from the Church which is what, after all, excommunicated means. It has been stated many times before that Catholic politicians who vote in favor of laws allowing for abortion or any other subject deemed by the Church to be intrinsically evil have excommunicated themselves through their own actions even though it hasn’t officially been stated by the hierarchy.
 
WilT said:
so, are the Mafioso’s excommunicated as a group, individually, and is it done by word, decree or in writing. Still not clear.
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Again, a person is excommunicated by their actions, not necessarily by a papal bull. If members of the Mafia are engaged in murder by hire, prostitution, child pornography, drug trafficking or anything else intrinsically evil, then they are personally and individually excommunicated. A papal bull is simply icing on the cake. Excommunication is a canonical penalty though one doesn’t need the legal formality to be excommunicated.
 
Timothysis said:
It has been stated many times before that Catholic politicians who vote in favor of laws allowing for abortion
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Whether this is really an excommunication or not, it’s at least a grave act and would require confession to a priest either way.

Being a member of an organization that is hostile to the Church is a different matter. I suppose renouncing your membership would be the first step in removing any formal or informal pronouncements of excommunication made by a bishop or Pope. And then there are ties to other groups which may do business with same. This could get quite complicated and I’m not an expert in Canon Law to comment further.
 
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