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By Dona De Sanctis • ANTI-ITALIAN PRIEST Italy is the Rob Astorino likened curse of the Church, according to Fr. his opponent, the cur- Ray Blake who, in his August 17, 2014 rent governor, Demo- blog, complained that speaking Italian is crat to essential for people seeking to advance a mafia boss. During a in the Church. Father Ray July 28 campaign stop in He added that “certain Italian cul- Blake ... no Syracuse, NY, Astorino New York’s Republican fan of Italy ture” is associated with corruption and compared Gov. Cuomo’s gubernatorial hopeful Rob Astorino [L.] and his oppo- inefficiency because it wants to employ “everyone in the involvement in an anti- nent, Gov. Andrew Cuomo. village...even buying a cup of coffee in a bar practically corruption probe to a always involves half an Italian family, someone to take “mafia boss” making “an offer you can’t refuse.” the order, someone to give the order to, someone to Both men are of Italian heritage. The Sons of Italy® make the coffee and someone to clear-up afterwards,” immediately issued a statement criticizing the remark. he said. Francis Fraietta, Connecticut • IS NOTHING SACRED? “Those who...have gone • HOT TEMPERS = COLD GELATO? Italian ge- along the evil ways, as in the case of the lato has less fat and fewer Mafia ... are excommunicated,” Francis said calories than ice cream so in an outdoor Mass in Calabria June 23. Haagen-Dazs is selling it The pope’s edict could make him a target ... by pushing unflattering for the Mafia because in southern Italy stereotypes. members of the Mafia gain local support A national commercial by portraying themselves as religious men Love Italian-style, Political according to Haagen-Dazs shows an attractive young cartoonist who support the Catholic Church. Italian couple insulting Tom Stiglich It was the first time in history that a pope each other in Italian with English subtitles. They call excommunicated Mafiosi. But two Ameri- each other crazy and selfish; shout and break plates can political cartoonists saw it only as a chance to trot until the sight of a container of gelato defuses these two out tired Mafia jokes. Tom Stiglich is a nationally emotional time bombs but only temporarily. syndicated political cartoonist whose work has appeared The company has received numerous complaints in , Newsweek, and other important about the commercial on its Facebook site, but still airs publications. He drew Pope Francis waking up to find the ad. Gina Sicina, New York a severed horse’s head on his bed. Steve Benson of the • THE ENEMY IS...US In his campaign to become Arizona Republic drew Francis extending the cross to a the next , Republican candidate gangster holding a machine gun and telling him, “I’ve got an offer you can’t refuse.”

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