Vatican considers excommunicating Catholics with links to the mafia

The Vatican is reportedly considering a new doctrine for excommunicating Catholics who were convicted of corruption or mafia-related crimes.

Earlier this week, more than 50 prosecutors, bishops, United Nations representatives and victims of organized crime gathered together at the Vatican for a conference to discuss the Church's new legal doctrine concerning "the question of excommunication for corruption and mafia association."

"Our effort is to create a mentality, a culture of justice, that fights corruption and promotes the common good," said Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican's retired ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, who participated in the event.

Excommunication, which is one of the most severe penalties in the Catholic Church, would prohibit offenders from participating in the sacraments and effectively exclude them from the "communion" of the church. According to The Telegraph, the punishment has been imposed in the past to isolate some religious sects, such as the ultra-conservative followers of French Archbishop Marcel-Francois Lefebvre.

In 2014, Pope Francis denounced the 'ndrangheta for its "adoration of evil and contempt for the common good," declaring that those who follow the mob's path are automatically excommunicated. The pontiff also previously condemned corruption in politics, business and even at the Vatican.

This week's conference marks the first time the mafia and corruption crimes are considered together as not worthy of pardon because they are said to be habitual criminal ways of life, rather than a single act of sin.

The Vatican's latest move was hailed by Italy's anti-corruption czar Raffaele Cantone as "revolutionary," saying it will greatly increase pressure on those involved in politics, economics and finance who "profess to be Catholic despite not being extraneous to circuits of corruption."

However, some have complained that the punishment of excommunication for crimes like extortion or paying bribes is a step too far.

"I think the Vatican should judge case by case. I confessed to my guilt and I don't think I should be excommunicated," ex-Senator Sergio De Gregorio told Italian newspaper La Repubblica, as reported by The Telegraph.

De Gregorio, who was caught up in former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi's political corruption scandals, had admitted that he had taken millions in bribes in exchange for switching sides to help topple Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition government in 2008.

"I admitted responsibility and told the truth. I have sincerely repented for my crimes, why should I be excluded from the Church?" he said.