"The White House announced Oct. 8 that President Joe Biden intends to nominate former Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly, a pro-life Democrat, as the new U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See":
"Donnelly, a Catholic, served three terms in the U.S. House before serving a single Senate term from 2013 to 2019. Should his nomination be confirmed by the Senate, Donnelly would succeed Callista Gingrich as the U.S. government's official representative to the Vatican."
"The unexpected Oct. 8 announcement concludes what had been an unusually long period without the naming of an official to the Vatican post, during which there had been speculation about a wide range of possible ambassadorial selections."
"Stephen Schenck, a Catholic political philosopher who has been involved in the Democratic Party, praised Biden's eventual choice."
"I think it's a brilliant choice," Schneck told NCR."
"It's nice to see a social justice, progressive Democrat who is also a pro-life Democrat named to this position," he said. "I really truly couldn't imagine a better person for this job."
"...Biden is expected to come to Rome later in October for a summit of the G-20 leaders, when the president may also meet Pope Francis at the Vatican. It seems unlikely the Senate would be able to confirm Donnelly's appointment before that meeting."
It appears that Biden took his time to find the right person for the position. It's not as though the Ambassador to the Vatican actually has any power or much influence. But who the person is sends a message, both to the Vatican and to Americans. It seems that Donnelly is a bit of a unicorn, someone who has both Catholic and Democratic creds. He is unlikely to be the target of a campaign to deny him Communion, or an effort to storm heaven with rosaries and fasting to convert his soul.
Seems like a great pick. I remember Donnelly running for re-election a couple of years ago, but I didn't know he's pro-life. Pro-life, pro-social-justice: sounds like the kind of guy I'd like to see in the White House :-). But that's probably not possible in today's Democratic Party.
ReplyDeleteFor once I agree with you, Jim. Too bad there aren't more Donnelly-s in politics these days.
DeleteBut he failed to get re-elected to the Senate. I guess his pro-life stance did not peel off many Republicans.
ReplyDeleteAccording to this article, Pope Francis met with Nancy Pelosi on Oct. 9. She was in Rome to address the G-20 Parliamentary Speakers Summit. This was the fourth time she has met Pope Francis. Bet her archbishop is having a conniption fit.
ReplyDeleteIt is good that the US is sending a lot of high level officials over to the Vatican, e.g. Kerry, now Pelosi and shortly Biden himself.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Obama went, Hilary Clinton never did. That not only rubbed Vatican officials the wrong way, it also rubbed the American Bishops the wrong way and contributed to their negative view of the Democratic Party.
Incidentally Rocco reports that Archbishop Gomez and senior officials are in Rome to talk with Francis and his aides. They probably hope to convince him not to veto their plans for a document on the Eucharist.
Rocco also reports that everything that has been out of Rome recently, the Pope and other cardinals saying that we should not be denying communion to politicians, Francis critique of EWTN, the pictures with Pelosi (all smiles on all sides, and the chair to the side rather than across from the Pope) and the plan to meet Biden are all signals to the bishops to back off their plans. I have my doubts; I think they have too much invested in their document to table it. However all the signals may pick off enough Bishops that they will fail to get a two-thirds majority and so cannot send it to Rome for approval.
My guess is that they will do their document, but it will not be so sharply pointed toward politicians as they originally intended and will be more general.
DeleteHere's Sal the Pal's reaction to Pelosi:
ReplyDeletehttps://catholicreview.org/archbishop-cordileone-asks-catholics-to-fast-pray-for-pelosi-over-abortion-issue/