Posted on 06/08/2009 11:39:04 AM PDT by presidio9
Barack Obama has an uncanny ability to disarm critics, especially those itching for a fight, and it was on full display this past week. His choice of federal judge Sonia Sotomayor as a Supreme Court nominee, of course, got all the attention. But another key appointment of a Hispanic with top-notch credentials and a compelling personal story also showed just how good the President is at keeping his opponents off balance. In fact, in selecting Catholic scholar Miguel Diaz to be the new ambassador to the Holy See, Obama not only neutralized potential controversy, but also highlighted a potential weakness of the U.S. Catholic Church these days. (See TIME's photo-essay "Sonia Sotomayor: The Making of a Judge.")
If confirmed, the Cuban-American Diaz would be the first theologian to hold the diplomatic post, and he would become one of the country's most influential Hispanic Catholics. The choice is a shrewd one for a White House that has been under fire from leading conservative Catholics in the first few months of the Administration. What could have been an ugly confirmation battle may well proceed with all the rancor of a first-communion party. (See pictures of Pope Benedict XVI.)
While the relationship between the U.S. and the Vatican has become an important one, the two have enjoyed full diplomatic relations only since 1984. Over the past 25 years, ambassadors to the Holy See have either been Catholic politicians or close personal friends of the President who appointed them. Ronald Reagan chose California businessman William Wilson; Bill Clinton selected former Boston mayor Ray Flynn and former Congresswoman Lindy Boggs; and George W. Bush's first ambassador was former RNC chair Jim Nicholson.
Nominating a Catholic pol to the position would have been a risk for Obama. His selection of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
I would have expected Obama to pick Cameron Diaz.
He was not the first choice. The Vatican already rejected other nominations.
Didn’t he first try to appoint Caroline Kennedy who was summarily rejected by the Vatican for her anti-life views?
That's because they are a big deal to her master, Barry Obama. Think of her as the Mouth of Sauron, and you'll understand the relationship.
Supposedly, non-politicians can be whatever they say they are as of this minute, because they have no voting record anybody can point to. This standard applies unless we are talking about president's daughters who can't keep their mouth shut. If I were the republican on this comittee, I'd ask Diaz point blank the questions Rick Warren asked his nominator on this issue. If Diaz answered that the question was "above his pay grade," I have no doubt that Pope Benedict XVI would tell Obama "no thanks."
Diaz is a horrible choice and an insult to the Vatican. He’s only a great selection according to TIME magazine. (rolls eyes)
I dont know anything about Diaz, so I cannot make a comment on his abilities or his competency for this job.
I do know that even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while and Obama tried a couple of others before selecting Diaz.
Diaz hasnt been accepted yet and may not be, Sooner or later if Obama keeps throwing names out there one will get selected and Obama,it appears, will be give credit for a great selection on the third or fourth try. Big Deal.
All this Time magazine article does is help me to recall the reasons why I stopped renewing my subscription back in the mid 1960s. As a Catholic, I found the article to be insulting. But no surprise considering the source. Time and Newsweek - neither qualifies to line the bottom of a bird cage.
Boosting CINO Liberation Theology Catholics who shouldn’t be allowed within a million miles of the Vatican. But Obama knew that the Vatican couldn’t really reject him because of his “Hispanic” credentials.
The guy’s a nobody, but he’s a politically connected nobody. Personally, I think he’s being sent there to unite the hostile bishops (mostly German and some French) against the Pope, revive the Liberation Theology crowd, and attack BXVI from within the Vatican. Bambi strikes again.
Diaz is a dim bulb who “taught” at Boynton Beach (Florida all-diocesan seminary) which was notorious for being the Pink Palance and also for having intellectual quality below the level of your average garden snail.
However, he’s very tied in with a bunch of “Liberation Theology” loonies and will probably be Obama’s front man for a hit (political, I hope)on BXVI.
Um, no, actually. We have quite a few of those, so kicking out the odd Commie or pro-homo theologian makes very little difference. We're not worried, but thanks for thinking of us.
I don't know about Sr. Diaz, but "theologian" is not a comforting word in this context. Basically, after Vatican II, most of the academics in the Theology departments of Catholic colleges make their living denouncing the Pope and the cardinal virtues, and sucking up to Communist dictators. The Philosophy departments are where you find scholars who are recognizably Catholic.
Who knows about the French Bishops, but do you honestly believe that any German Bishop is going to find traction attacking this particular Pope?
God is greater.
LOL! Dude, the mental imagery is brutally funny.
The German bishops (most of them) hate him. They are very “progressivist.”
God is definitely greater. The Church will survive this coming persecution as it has survived any other. But it’s probably not going to be fun while it lasts.
Will the Vatican accept him???
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