In the municipality of Catania, the clergy have banned the attendance of godparents at baptism ceremonies for three years, citing the fact that the sacred role of the godparent has now become very "questionable." Many parents choose wealthy people as godparents, seeing in them not a spiritual counselor but an opportunity to acquire connections and influential patrons for their children.
As the New York Times writes, christening arrangements should not serve to strengthen the gangster clans.
Catania's chief vicar, Salvatore Genchi, says this is just an experiment so far. He is the godfather of 15 children, but he believes that such a responsibility is beyond the power of most godparents.
This ban has already disrupted several lavish baptismal ceremonies. Residents of Catania have to travel to neighboring cities for baptism, where the ban is not yet in force.
