Did the Vatican refuse to accept Kennedy as ambassador?
April 13, 2009
Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, the daughter of America's first Catholic president, has been proposed as US ambassador to the Holy See, according to an Italian newspaper report. But Il Giornale says that the Vatican quietly blocked the appointment, because Caroline Kennedy has been a public supporter of legal abortion, same-sex marriage, and embryonic stem-cell research. Previous reports had suggested that the Holy See has rejected three different candidates for the ambassadorial role because of the candidates' stands on moral issues.
The Vatican's chief spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, denied that any candidates have been rejected, saying that the White House has not proposed an ambassador. The Italian media reports, however, could have been based upon informal consultations between US officials and the Vatican Secretariat of State.
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Further information:
- Vatican rejects Kennedy diplomat role (Irish Times)
- Vatican denies it vetoed US choice for ambassador (AP)
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