Excommunicating mobsters? Vatican eyes new legal doctrine

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican is looking to develop a new doctrine that calls for excommunicating Catholics for mafia association and corruption.

That’s the decision reached this week after the Vatican hosted its first-ever conference on fighting corruption and organized crime. The meeting gathered 50 prosecutors, bishops, victims and U.N. officials for a day of talks.

In a statement Saturday, the Vatican said the need had come to develop a new legal doctrine for the Catholic Church about “excommunication for corruption and mafia association.”

Pope Francis has long railed against corruption, writing a short book about it as archbishop. And during a 2014 visit to one of Italy’s mafia strongholds, Francis told mobsters they were excommunicated. But actually developing a doctrine around the concept would mark a new step for the Vatican.