The bishops of region have included the ban in a new set of pastoral guidelines.

Persons convicted of Mafia-related crimes are also not permitted to carry statues in religious processions unless they have publicly repented of their deeds, the bishops added.

Calabria's bishops met in July last year to discuss ways to cut fake religious ties used by Mafia criminals.

This came after Archbishop Giuseppe Fiorini Morosini of Reggio Calabria asked the Vatican if he could suspend for 10 years the naming of godfathers in his archdiocese.

"There are two problems," he told Vatican Radio last year.

"There is the use of religious symbols and even a sacrament to present a ‘clean' face to society, but there is also the concrete fact that being a godfather at a Baptism or sponsor at Confirmation forms a bond between families."

Some families delay Baptisms of children for years to wait until the "godfather" gets out of jail.

The Calabria ban comes as Sicilian authorities removed a series of roadside billboards announcing the Baptism of a "Cosa Nostra" toddler.

The posters showed baby "Antonio" dressed in jeans and a driving cap with the message: "This marvellous creature is . . . Cosa Nostra!"

Investigators have alleged that Antonio's father may have links to the Sicilian Mafia, known as the Cosa Nostra or "Our Thing".

The Baptism celebration, which was due to take place on Sunday, was going to be covered live by a local radio station and feature several popular Italian entertainers, the posters said.

Antonio's parents cancelled the event.

The family's lawyer, Enzo Iofrida, told La Stampa newspaper that they did not intend to show a "lack of respect for the Church or institutions", and simply wanted to celebrate a lavish event.

Sources

• Catholic World News
• Salt and Light TV
• The Telegraph
• Image: The Telegraph

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued this directive in the case of a Spanish transsexual person who sought to be godfather to a nephew.

Alex Salinas, 21, was born female, but holds an ID card identifying her as a male.

Alex is on a waiting list to receive gender reassignment surgery.

When Alex applied to be the "godfather" of her nephew, Bishop Rafael Zornoza Boy of Cádiz and Ceuta asked the Vatican's doctrinal office what should be done.

There had been media reports of the bishop disallowing Alex's request, then relenting and allowing it.

Bishop Zorzona issued a statement on September 1, which contained the Vatican response.

The CDF explained that transsexual behaviour "reveals in a public way an attitude opposite to the moral imperative of solving the problem of sexual identity according to the truth of one's own sexuality".

"Therefore it is evident that this person does not possess the requirement of leading a life according to the faith and in the position of godfather and is therefore unable to be admitted to the position of godfather or godmother," the congregation added, referring to canon 874 §3 in the Code of Canon Law.

However, the congregation stressed that there is "no discrimination toward (Alex), but only the recognition of an objective lack of the requirements, which by their nature are necessary to assume the ecclesial responsibility of being a godfather".

Alex said she felt "used and deceived by my own church", and adding that her sister no longer plans to baptise her child at all.

"They are pushing me away from the Church, I no longer expect anything from them," Alex said.

Bishop Zorzona stated "the Church welcomes all persons with charity, desiring to help each one in their situation with tender mercy, but without denying the truth she preaches, which is offered to everyone as a path of faith to be freely accepted".

The bishop also referenced Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si, which states that man "has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will".

Sources

• Catholic News Agency
• Breitbart
• Image: New Ways Ministry

It was years ago and we were walking through Cashel Mall during an afternoon shopping jaunt and she asked if, when she had children, I would be their godmother. Now, what I think I was supposed to do was grab her excitedly and yelp "yes!" and gush a bit about what an honour it was and how I was definitely suited to this role because of my advanced french plaiting skills and babies really like me and ohmigosh, I can't WAIT!

But because I am the sort of person who loves to rain on someone else's parade* I said rather flatly, "But how would that work? Because I'm totally an atheist." My friend looked incredibly deflated. If I had the opportunity to do it over again I would do the excited and flattered thing first and bring up the glaring flaw LATER.

The problem from my point of view was that even though my friend was that religious, I did know that she believed in God...and that I equally did not. I've been to a few christenings, and as I understand it, a godparent is supposed to have some input into the child's religious upbringing, which for obvious reasons is a role that I am not at all suited to.

I think religion is silly. But then most people in the world think Star Wars is silly, even though clearly it is a Very Serious Matter (as evidenced by this very long but entirely awesome blogpost that outlines the most artistically satisfying order in which to watch the films - it's not nearly as simple as you would imagine). Read more

Sources

• Blog Idle with Moata on Stuff
• Image: Tyler