Vatican newspaper raps processional honor to mob figure

July 08, 2014

The Vatican newspaper has denounced the gesture made by parishioners at a church in Oppido Mamertina, Italy, who detoured a religious procession to honor a convicted leader of the ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate.

L'Osservatore Romano remarked that the "perversion of religious sentiment often accompanies criminal activity and acquiescence, dictated by fear or interest, unfortunately still widespread among the people."

 

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Further information:

• Vatican calls Mob bowing 'perversion' (ANSA)
• In Calabria, church procession takes detour to honor mobster (CWN, 7/7)