Palermo, Italy, Mar 22, 2017 / 02:02 am
Hollywood precedent notwithstanding, an Italian bishop has announced that known members of the mafia cannot be godparents for the Catholic sacraments of baptism or confirmation.
The diocesan decree came from Michele Pennisi, Bishop of Monreale, near Palermo in Sicily, Italy.
"The mafia has always taken the term godfather from the church to give its bosses an air of religious respectability, whereas in fact the two worlds are completely incompatible," the bishop said in the announcement.
He admitted that it may be hard to enforce, given the secrecy of the mafia, the Guardian reported.