State Department criticizes Ambassador Kmiec

April 13, 2011

The US State Department’s inspector general has issued a report criticizing the performance of Douglas Kmiec--one of President Obama’s most prominent lay Catholic supporters--as ambassador of Malta.

“His unconventional approach to his role as ambassador has created friction with principal officials in Washington, especially over his reluctance to accept their guidance and instructions,” the inspector general’s report noted. “Based on a belief that he was given a special mandate to promote President Obama’s interfaith initiatives, he has devoted considerable time to writing articles for publication in the United States as well as in Malta, and to presenting his views on subjects outside the bilateral portfolio.”

“His official schedule has been uncharacteristically light for an ambassador at a post of this size, and on average he spends several hours of each work day in the residence, much of which appears to be devoted to his nonofficial writings,” the report continued.

 

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Further information:

• Too Catholic for Malta? (GetReligion)
• State Department Blasts Ambassador Kmiec -- Why? (Catholic Key Blog)