Maltese newspaper editor comments on Kmiec’s proposed ambassadorship

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Comments: 14

Valletta, Malta, Jul 8, 2009 / 12:14 am (CNA).- The editor of a Malta newspaper has commented on President Barack Obama’s choice of Prof. Doug Kmiec as ambassador to Malta, describing the appointment as “somewhat of a poisoned chalice” and noting the controversies concerning Kmiec and his campaign to elect Obama to the American presidency.

Noel Grima, editor of the Malta Independent Online, said that though Kmiec was a Catholic and a pro-life person he has “fallen foul” of some Catholic leaders for his public stances on abortion and other pro-life issues.

Noting Kmiec’s past as a law school dean, a law professor, and a member of the Reagan and George H.W. Bush presidential administrations, Grima then discussed Kmiec’s transformation into a supporter of President Barack Obama, an open proponent of abortion rights.

Kmiec had said he was convinced that then-Senator Obama wanted to alleviate social conditions that correlate with abortion. Though describing himself as a Republican and a Catholic who believes in traditional marriage and the beginning of life at conception, he said he believed that president Obama would respect and accommodate opposing points of view.

Grima noted that a priest denied communion to Kmiec at a Mass for a California chapter of Legatus, a Catholic businessman’s group. The priest was forced to apologize to Kmiec by Archbishop of Los Angeles Roger Cardinal Mahony.

“The amount of hatemail and hate comments about him is simply unbelievable,” Grima wrote.

However, Kmiec has also become an ardent defender of the Obama administration.

Listing Kmiec’s defense of Obama’s embryonic stem cell policy, the president’s pro-abortion appointees, and his recent proposal to end state recognition of marriage, Grima also noted that the nominated ambassador has engaged in controversies with several Catholic prelates.

According to Grima, Kmiec has criticized Archbishops Raymond Burke and Charles Chaput and Bishop Joseph Naumann for saying Catholics who support abortion should be denied Communion. Kmiec has called this denial a form of “intimidation.”

Kmiec also labeled as “intrusive” Pope Benedict XVI’s comments to pro-abortion rights Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic and Speaker of the U.S. House. His defense of President Obama’s embryonic stem cell research policy also brought criticism from Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

Comments: 14

Subscriber comments:

Published by: JLS
Riverside, CA, USA 07/16/2009 10:25 AM EST

Here is the subtle-think which throws Jessica Bell, one time assistant to ambassador Kmiec, "though, from a Christian political thought point of view why we cannot think that any one secular party (Republicans) is going to fully and accurately represent a Christian worldview": There is no such Christian world view that thinks a political party cannot stand for the Church on all counts. But this sly error is exactly what these Christian in name only types use to gobble bigger and bigger chunks of the utilitarian pie in the sky.

Published by: Jessica Bell
California 07/15/2009 02:37 PM EST

I have had three classes with Professor Kmiec and have been his research assistant. From the time I've spent under his tutelage I know that he is Catholic through and through, and that he has no interest in the "coffer", as some commenters put it. He is a highly principled, even idealistic man who deserves respect for following his conscience despite public opinion. He is not the kind of person to spend his time thinking about material possessions, but rather one who constantly ponders Christian teaching and legal theory and history. I am admittedly puzzled by his defense of the Obama administration. I understand, though, from a Christian political thought point of view why we cannot think that any one secular party (Republicans) is going to fully and accurately represent a Christian worldview. Also, despite Prof. Kmiec's support of Obama, he cannot honestly be called pro-choice. He challenges and derides Roe v. Wade, on both moral and legal grounds. He usually refers to a fetus as an unborn child. He does believe that life begins at conception and that abortion should be illegal, but he is also willing to address the surrounding social issues that some pro-life advocates seem to forget in their single-minded quest to outlaw abortion. Prof. Kmiec is a good man and a good Catholic, and he deserves praise for following his conscience and challenging some of the assumptions of the Christian Right.

Published by: Catholic Believer
USA 07/10/2009 08:31 AM EST

If Zero thinks he can subvert Countries faithful to the Lord Jesus, and not get Divine retribution in his lifetime, he's dreaming...Jesus protects His own, and will not be mocked!

Published by: Maria Key
United Kingdom 07/09/2009 04:20 PM EST

Mr. Formosa, I'm sorry to say that Malta's courageous stand against abortion and for traditional Catholic values is what inspired Obama to send you this poisoned chalice. No doubt Mr. Kmiec's orders will be to wear Malta down and tear you from your "old fashioned thinking" so we can make "progress". Don't let him!

Published by: Richard
Jacksonville/FL/USA 07/09/2009 03:22 PM EST

"It would not
surprise me if Cardinal
Mahoney voted for Obama! "
It would greatly surprise me if he didn't.!

Published by: R.S.Newark
Norwood/MA/USA 07/09/2009 07:45 AM EST

Tell us why Valletta approved and accepted him when they could have said no. Was financial help to Malta an exchange for approving him?

Published by: diane smith
Northern California, USA 07/08/2009 06:28 PM EST

Altho circumstances are not totally known, some of us believe Archbishop of L.A., Roger Cardinal MAHoney should apologize to the priest who denied Communion to a self-professed pro-choice govt. official, Kmiec.
Mahoney did a disservice, it appears, to Catholic ethics and the commission given to His apostles by Jesus.

Obama is slyly trying to pretend REAL Catholics are being appointed to his cabinet: Catholic WOLVES IN SHEEPS CLOTHING.

FYI: Your comment selection doesn't make it to the web page.Comments haven't been available to read for about 2 wks. (I got thru by the back door )

Published by: greg
chicago/illinois/u,s, 07/08/2009 03:55 PM EST

No matter how intelligent or professional Mr. Kmiec may be, what does "building up the Kingdom" of God on earth actually mean to him??

Published by: Patrick Mealey
Menlo Park, CA USA 07/08/2009 01:48 PM EST

It appears that Kmiec's "conversion" is following the path of all who have abandoned their faith. First, moderate disagreement with some specific doctrine or belief which causes consternation, scandal and confusion amongst the faithful. Then, as time passes, attacks on the wider doctrines of Catholicism with a concomitant decrease in his effect on the faithful. Finally, as we are seeing now, full disclosure of the anti-Catholic beliefs and a general recognition that the individual has become apostate and now serves another master. May God have mercy on his soul. I wonder what the price was for his soul - as I hear Wales is not available....

Published by: Fed up in PA
Altoona, PA, USA 07/08/2009 01:45 PM EST

I don't understand these gutless public figures, if they're so sure the Church is wrong, why don't their convictions lead them someplace else ?

Published by: Radomysl Twardowski
Bismarck, ND, USA 07/08/2009 12:35 PM EST

A very poisoned chalice. Mr. Kmiec swapped his previous convictions just to have his hand in the till. I am recently very uncomfortable with EWTN (Threshold of Hope), The Wanderer and similar seemingly Catholic sources for their "fair and balanced" coverage and sometimes almost emotional support of the Obama administration. In my humble opinion they would be better off being closer to the Republicans ideologically, the issues or war and economy and what not.

Published by: Michael Noonan
Jefferson, WI, USA 07/08/2009 11:37 AM EST

It was "Catholics" such
as Kmiec that elected
Obama. Shameful and
sinful! It would not
surprise me if Cardinal
Mahoney voted for Obama!

Published by: Edwin Formosa
Malta 07/08/2009 07:03 AM EST

I am from Malta, a very small island ( just 130 sq.miles) with just 400.000 population and no natural resources not even enough water. Yet we have our own language , great history (7000 BC) and archeology ( the world’s oldest free standing structures). We are also biblical. St Paul was shipwrecked here on his way to Rome and martrydom. We remained Catholic since then, and even managed to keep divorce out of our laws till now.But the devil is recruiting clever brains in Malta too and they are vociferously challenging our family traditions. Nevertheless for most of us right is still right and wrong is still wrong . Our President and Prime Minister are convinced practicing catholics and Malta’s position on family values in the UN and UE is constantly clear. And though political issues often divide us, there is a word that the Maltese left, integrated to the European Socialists doesn’t even risk to mention. And that is ‘abortion’.

Published by: Brendan Bradley
Ireland 07/08/2009 06:50 AM EST

Obama is simply determined to give the fingers to any Catholic country that opposes abortion and "gay marriage."

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