Alan wrote: The Pope's unprecedented courageous act gives Italian Catholics a moral foundation for their resistance to the mafia.
Because no Italian Catholic would have any sort of moral foundation to oppose a crime syndicate that actively harms and destroys their fellow people unless the Pope's says something? Sure, the church is always somewhat behind decent and civilized people with its apologies, statements and actions, and granted, the most faithful of Catholics aren't always the quickest of thinkers, but come on, this is offensive. Surely they don't need an old dude with a stupid hat to tell them that a murderous poison salesman is not exactly a friend to humanity, or do they?
Anyway, I think they're lagging behind. Just as they do with just about everything. Then of course exclusion from their in-group such that now the baddies can't join them in a realm of magic and happiness after death isn't much of a punishment IMHO, though let this not mean that I wished any more power to the church than it already has. But yea, I think I'm glad its moving along at all. Be it kicking and screaming and a century behind everyone else, but they are making progress at least.
