Grace Thompson
The term liberal catholic mafia may refer to the Saint Gallen Group, an informal group of liberal and reformist clerics in the Catholic Church. The group, also known as the St. Gallen Mafia, advocated for reforms within the Church and met annually in Switzerland to exchange ideas. Alternatively, the term Lavender Mafia has been used to describe a group of homosexual clerics and gay-friendly cardinals within the Catholic Church who allegedly hold significant power and promote unorthodox beliefs. This group has been associated with sexual abuse scandals and cover-ups within the Church. Finally, the relationship between the Mafia, an organized crime group, and Catholicism has been a subject of interest, with some noting visual and ideological similarities between the two. While the Mafia has been condemned by the Catholic Church, there is a complex history of tolerance and even support for organized crime within certain Catholic circles.
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What You'll Learn
The Saint Gallen Group
The group's existence was revealed by Ivereigh in 2014 and was further described in Cardinal Godfried Danneels's authorised biography in 2015. The issues discussed by the group included centralism in the Church, the role of bishops' conferences, the role and position of priests, sexual morality, the nomination of bishops, and collegiality. The group felt that the Holy See impeded free discussion among bishops, so their meetings were held in secrecy.
The group's discussions were prompted by Bishop Ivo Fürer, who felt that a 1993 Vatican reform marked the end of the Council of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe's main purpose, which was to foster collegiality among European bishops. In consultation with Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, he invited a group of cardinals, archbishops, and bishops for frank and collegial discussions.
The Saint Gallen Mafia has been the subject of recent books, including "The St. Gallen Mafia: Exposing the Secret Reformist Group Within the Church" by Julia Meloni, which explores the group's long-term plan to reshape the Catholic Church by electing a progressive-minded pope.
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The Mafia and Catholicism
The Sicilian Mafia, or Cosa Nostra, along with other Italian organized crime groups, has utilized Christian symbols and values to define its identity. This appropriation of religion has been a tool for the Mafia to gain influence and present itself as a cultural expression of Sicily, despite its relatively recent emergence compared to the bimillennial tradition of Catholicism on the island.
The Mafia and the Church share a hierarchical structure, a reverence for tradition, and a ritualistic approach to their respective domains. The Mafia, like the Catholic Church, is meticulous and obsessed with order, seeking to make sense of the cruelty and disorder of life. This similarity is highlighted in artistic depictions of the Mafia, such as Mario Puzo's "The Godfather," where religious scenes are juxtaposed with violent acts, creating a striking visual contrast that resonates with audiences.
The Church has repeatedly denounced the Mafia's activities, with Pope John Paul II delivering a famous anti-Mafia speech in Agrigento, Sicily, in 1993. He condemned the Mafia as a "civilization of death" and called on its members to convert to avoid God's judgment. Despite these strong words, the Church has struggled to excommunicate mobsters, and the issue remains a complex one within the Church.
In addition to the Sicilian Mafia, there are other groups with ties to Catholicism that have been given the "mafia" moniker. One example is the "Lavender Mafia", which refers to a group of homosexual clerics and gay-friendly cardinals within the Vatican who are accused of subverting Catholic doctrine and protecting abusive priests. Another group is the "Saint Gallen Mafia" or "Saint Gallen Group", an informal gathering of liberal/reformist clerics within the Catholic Church who met annually for frank discussions and exchanges of ideas.
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The Lavender Mafia
The term "Lavender Mafia" was coined to refer to the root cause of clerical sex abuse scandals. When caught, abuser priests were not handed over to law enforcement officials or disciplined by their bishops. Instead, they were transferred from parish to parish, or diocese to diocese, enabling them to become serial offenders.
The scandal involving the former archbishop of Washington, D.C., Ted McCarrick, brought the issue of sexual abuse by Catholic priests into sharp focus. McCarrick was accused of sexually abusing a teenager while serving as an archdiocesan priest and secretary to Terence Cardinal Cooke. The abuse allegedly started in 1971 when the victim was a 16-year-old student planning to become a priest.
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The Sicilian Mafia and the Catholic Church
The Mafia, despite engaging in extortion, intimidation, and other criminal activities, has a certain Catholic flavour to it. Mario Puzo's "The Godfather" and the subsequent films by Francis Ford Coppola are soaked in the visual imagery of Catholicism. The famous baptism scene, where Michael Corleone acts as godfather to his sister's child while simultaneously plotting murder, is a striking example of the intertwining of religious ritual and violence.
The Sicilian Mafia, also known as Cosa Nostra, has appropriated Christian symbols and values to define its identity and consolidate its authority. This has led to tensions with the Church, which objects to religious events being hijacked for the glorification of criminal enterprises. However, some members of the clergy have been accused of turning a blind eye or even enabling Mafia activities, such as in the case of financial ventures with Italian bankers connected to the Mafia.
Popes, such as Saint John Paul II, have made notable anti-Mafia statements during their visits to Sicily. In 1993, Pope John Paul II delivered an off-the-cuff speech in Agrigento, Sicily, where he condemned the Mafia and called on those responsible to convert to avoid the judgement of God. More recently, Pope Francis attempted to get mobsters excommunicated from the Catholic Church, but he was unsuccessful, and it remains unclear if his successor will follow suit.
While the Sicilian Mafia and the Catholic Church may seem like strange bedfellows, their relationship is complex and multifaceted, with elements of both conflict and complicity. Ultimately, the Mafia's use of religious imagery and its presence within Sicilian culture have created a perception of a connection to Catholicism that is difficult to ignore.
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The Vatican and the Mafia
The Mafia and the Vatican have had a long and complex relationship. While the Mafia has been repeatedly condemned by the Church, there have also been instances of clergy tolerating or even supporting organised crime. The Mafia, a criminal organisation, and the Catholic Church are both hierarchical organisations with a shared interest in ritual and tradition.
The Mafia has a strong presence in Sicilian culture and has been glamorised in popular culture, such as in Mario Puzo's The Godfather. The Sicilian Cosa Nostra, the Calabrian 'ndrangheta, and the Neapolitan Camorra have all used Christian symbols and values to define their identity. In the early 20th century, the Mafia was seen by some as a force for maintaining law and order, and after World War II, it was legitimised by priests and bishops as a curb on communism.
However, the Church has also taken steps to address the issue of organised crime. In 1993, Pope John Paul II delivered a famous anti-Mafia speech in Agrigento, Sicily, calling on those responsible to convert to avoid the judgement of God. In 2021, Pope Francis beatified Sicilian magistrate Rosario Livatino, who was killed by the Mafia in 1990, and established a working group to address the issue of excommunication for mobsters. Despite these efforts, there have been challenges and obstacles, with some members of the Vatican prioritising other issues and viewing the Mafia as an Italian issue to be handled by the national bishops' conference.
Within the Catholic Church, there have also been scandals involving groups with "mafia" in their names. The "Lavender Mafia" refers to a group of homosexual clerics and gay-friendly cardinals who hold power in the Vatican and are accused of covering up sexual abuse by priests. The "Saint Gallen Mafia" or "Saint Gallen Group" refers to an informal group of liberal or reformist clerics who met annually for frank discussions and are believed to have influenced papal elections.
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Frequently asked questions
The liberal Catholic mafia, also known as the Saint Gallen Group, was an informal group of high-ranking liberal/reformist clerics in the Catholic Church.
The group met annually in or near St. Gallen, Switzerland, to freely exchange ideas on issues in the Church.
Members of the group included Cardinal Godfried Danneels, Bishop Ivo Fürer, Achille Silvestrini, José Policarpo, Lehmann, and more.
The group is believed to have influenced the 2005 papal conclave by preventing the election of Joseph Ratzinger and attempting to elect Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who begged not to be chosen.
