Turnbull,
Were the words "Mafia" and "Cosa Nostra" omitted from the film because of pre assure from Italian groups, or was that done as a stylistic choice by Puzo and Coppolla? That may seem like an amateaurish question, I had just always assumed those words had been excluded as 'style' choice.
From p. 119 of Harlan Lebo's definitive "The Godfather Legacy":
On Friday, March 19, flanked by Anthony Columbo and Nat Marcone [of the Italian-American Civil Rights League] at a paress conference, [Al] Ruddy [Godfather producer] announced the deal: in exchange for League cooperation in the making of The Godfather, Ruddy assured Colombo that the words "Mafia" and "La Cosa Nostra" would not be spoken in The Godfather. In addition, the proceeds from the film's world premier would be donated to the League's hospital fund.
