Curtis Sliwa and John Gotti Jr.

"It's a disgrace to see my church giving Holy Communion to a man who helped lead a reign of terror," said Sliwa, 51, who is also Catholic. "What is the message? You kill, you maim, you commit crime, and you gain sanctuary. It's shameful."

"The bottom line is he is allowed to worship in any Catholic church," said Sean Nolan of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. " Any Catholic is welcome."

[It is Sean Dolan, can't any reporter get a name right????]

I hate to say it, but Curtis is wrong this time. Gotti has a right to attend Mass like any other person. Sliwa is angry and understandably so, he was attacked by goons who shot him and justice has been denied. But if the Church kept sinners out, what purpose would it serve?