Obama Picks Catholic “Theologian” for Ambassador to Vatican

Well, why not, considering where President Obama is coming from?  Miguel Diaz was an avid supporter of the Obama campaign,  one of the twenty-six prominent “Catholics” who signed a letter of support for Obama’s appointment of pro-abortion governor, Kathleen Sebellius, to head the highly critical department of Health and Human Services. He is a very popular teacher and author. He’s Hispanic, a Cuban, a good follow-up to the nomination of Sonja Sotomayor.  And, with the demographic change in America moving toward a Latino majority, more Hispanics should be in office. Did I mention that he is a theologian? Yes, a liberation theologian to be exact. The two books he wrote, or co-wrote in one case, were published by Orbis Books, the infamous publishing arm for leftist Maryknollers and for sundry other purveyors of Marxist liberation theology.  I should not fail to mention that Mr. Diaz also served on the steering committee for the Karl Rahner Society.   But to say that he and Mary Ann Glendon, the previous U.S. Vatican Ambassador, share the same one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Faith would be a contradiction.  Concerning President Obama, Diaz had this to say (á la Douglas Kmiec) in an interview with Catholic News Agency:

Obama was “committed to working” with people who defend “life in the womb” and deeply respects people who hold positions he does not agree with. “Wherever we can, we should advance life at all stages,” Diaz said. “Wherever we can”? Sebellius is certainly in a position where she “[can]advance life at all stages.” But she is determined not to. So, “to advance life at all stages” Diaz supported her and the most anti-life of all U.S. presidents.

Mary Ann Baenninger, president of the College of Saint Benedict, has this telling comment: “The College of Saint Benedict is enormously proud that Miguel has been nominated by President Obama for this important post. Miguel is a highly-respected theologian and scholar, and an excellent teacher. Most importantly, he has a deep commitment to Catholic social justice and to inclusiveness in the Catholic Church. He truly lives a life of faith. He is the ideal candidate for this post.” (my italics)  Include everybody. Rahner’s theology did.  No absolutes, moral or doctrinal, now that’s inclusive.  Is this the kind of Church Rahnerian theologian Miguel Diaz wants? Will he be marching up to Communion while serving in Rome?  Sure, he will, if he is accepted by Rome.  Let’s pray that Pope Benedict gets the right information about this man and rejects him. The last thing the pope needs is a Marxist-sympathizing “liberation theologian” using his post as U.S. Ambassador to influence Vatican policy in the Americas.

You can read the AP article here and another link here from a post of the Saint Benedict College Bulletin where he teaches.