Doug Kmiec to become U.S. Ambassador to Malta
If we hope to build a culture of life and civilization of love we must always be willing to contend with those with whom we disagree.
Professor, soon to be Ambassador, Doug Kmiec.
PrintWASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - Doug Kmiec, Professor of Law at Pepperdine University and former Dean of Catholic University School of Law, will soon be the United States Ambassador for the Catholic Nation of Malta. He has become a lightning rod among many for his support of the candidacy of now President Barack Obama.
The concerns have heightened with his continued defense of the President and the new administration in some very highly controversial appointments since the election. However, no one can doubt the academic or professional credentials of the new candidate to the Ambassadorship of that lovely Mediterranean island and Catholic nation just south of Italy.
I was one of those who went “toe to toe” with my colleague during the last hotly contested Presidential campaign in the United States of America. For me, it was never about my being an enthusiastic supporter of the other major candidate - I was not. It was about the threshold foundational concern that reveals the very heart of Catholic Social Justice thought, the inviolable dignity of every human life. This is the key to the whole social justice teaching of the Catholic Church. I contended then and now that it must also be the door through which we proceed in making every important voting decision.
The inviolable dignity of every human person at every age and stage is more than an issue for Catholics. It is the hermeneutic, the lens, through which our entire social justice analysis proceeds. After all, our call to give a preferential love for the poor in Catholic Social teaching is rooted in our absolute insistence on their human dignity as created in the Image of God. Our call to promote peace and always resist war is rooted in our recognition of the human dignity of even those whom we consider “enemies.” Every procured abortion is the taking of an innocent human life, the life of our first neighbor in the first home, and an act of unspeakable evil.
The "Right to Life" is not some “single issue”, it is the entire framework within which we are called to help build a just society. Allowing our positive law to continue to be used to protect the taking of any innocent human life as a “choice” and then placing the police power of the State behind such an evil act threatens the entire infrastructure of human rights.
The disagreement I had with Doug produced a series of contentious but always civil articles. It also became the source of much controversy. Some of those who agreed with my unqualified defense of the Right to Life became angry with me for continuing to engage the issues with Doug Kmiec. My very willingness to engage him even made me suspect to some.
Not only did I respect his intelligence but I knew the importance of sharpening our debate with his line of thinking, given the way I saw the election landscape. Now, in retrospect, the matter becomes even more urgent. If we hope to build a culture of life and civilization of love we must always be willing to contend with those with whom we disagree.
The title of Doug’s book “Can a Catholic Support Him? Asking the Big Question About Barack Obama” led to my phrasing the question differently in several pieces I wrote as “Should a Catholic Support Him?” and then answering that question with a resounding “No.” I did so precisely because of this threshold and foundational policy concern about human dignity as the baseline for all public policy considerations.
However, that absolute disagreement with him over his claim never ended our friendship. That is why I offer my congratulations to Doug Kmiec for his appointment and my prayers for his whole family in this transition. I am certain that his appointment will be confirmed.
Malta is a wonderful example of how the great teachings of the Catholic faith can infuse a culture with goodness. It is also the home of the Knights of Malta, champions of the Catholic Church whose defense of the faith is so critically important in this hostile age.
May the experience that Doug has in his diplomatic service on behalf of our Nation in that wonderful land lead him into the heart of that Church so that from that heart, he can truly go into the center of the world to effect real and substantial change.
The concerns have heightened with his continued defense of the President and the new administration in some very highly controversial appointments since the election. However, no one can doubt the academic or professional credentials of the new candidate to the Ambassadorship of that lovely Mediterranean island and Catholic nation just south of Italy.
I was one of those who went “toe to toe” with my colleague during the last hotly contested Presidential campaign in the United States of America. For me, it was never about my being an enthusiastic supporter of the other major candidate - I was not. It was about the threshold foundational concern that reveals the very heart of Catholic Social Justice thought, the inviolable dignity of every human life. This is the key to the whole social justice teaching of the Catholic Church. I contended then and now that it must also be the door through which we proceed in making every important voting decision.
The inviolable dignity of every human person at every age and stage is more than an issue for Catholics. It is the hermeneutic, the lens, through which our entire social justice analysis proceeds. After all, our call to give a preferential love for the poor in Catholic Social teaching is rooted in our absolute insistence on their human dignity as created in the Image of God. Our call to promote peace and always resist war is rooted in our recognition of the human dignity of even those whom we consider “enemies.” Every procured abortion is the taking of an innocent human life, the life of our first neighbor in the first home, and an act of unspeakable evil.
The "Right to Life" is not some “single issue”, it is the entire framework within which we are called to help build a just society. Allowing our positive law to continue to be used to protect the taking of any innocent human life as a “choice” and then placing the police power of the State behind such an evil act threatens the entire infrastructure of human rights.
The disagreement I had with Doug produced a series of contentious but always civil articles. It also became the source of much controversy. Some of those who agreed with my unqualified defense of the Right to Life became angry with me for continuing to engage the issues with Doug Kmiec. My very willingness to engage him even made me suspect to some.
Not only did I respect his intelligence but I knew the importance of sharpening our debate with his line of thinking, given the way I saw the election landscape. Now, in retrospect, the matter becomes even more urgent. If we hope to build a culture of life and civilization of love we must always be willing to contend with those with whom we disagree.
The title of Doug’s book “Can a Catholic Support Him? Asking the Big Question About Barack Obama” led to my phrasing the question differently in several pieces I wrote as “Should a Catholic Support Him?” and then answering that question with a resounding “No.” I did so precisely because of this threshold and foundational policy concern about human dignity as the baseline for all public policy considerations.
However, that absolute disagreement with him over his claim never ended our friendship. That is why I offer my congratulations to Doug Kmiec for his appointment and my prayers for his whole family in this transition. I am certain that his appointment will be confirmed.
Malta is a wonderful example of how the great teachings of the Catholic faith can infuse a culture with goodness. It is also the home of the Knights of Malta, champions of the Catholic Church whose defense of the faith is so critically important in this hostile age.
May the experience that Doug has in his diplomatic service on behalf of our Nation in that wonderful land lead him into the heart of that Church so that from that heart, he can truly go into the center of the world to effect real and substantial change.
- - -
Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
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By any measure Doug Kmiec is pro-life. He supports an interpretation of the U.S. Constitution that would prevent the States from allowing abortion. Many so called pro-lifers only want to allow the states to prohibit abortion.
Anyone familiar with his biography knows that Doug Kmiec has lived the pro life position, its not just politics for him.
Visit this website from Malta:
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=90673
bulbajer- If you call Joan Chittister, one of the main authors represented on NCR, "pro-life" you have a rather bizarre notion of the concept of protecting the unborn. Protecting the unborn has to necessarily involve attempt to legislate against killing them, but Chitistter, Kmiec,Winters, and most of their ilk on NCR seem to feel that is one area where the government should not step in. Do you feel President Obama is pro-life? Because I don't believe Sister Joan's position is much different.
Once again the USA, as it so often does, appoints an ambassador who has no training or qualifications for the job. This has nothing to do with Mr Kmiec's political or theological positions. Mary Ann Glendon and her successor at the Vatican had/have no qualifications either for their job. Would you allow a dentist perform heart surgery?
so this is what he sold our nation's next generation for.
JDS, I read that article. I am still not convinced that National Catholic Reporter is one of those. It makes no attempt to change the teachings of the church and it is pro-life. Just because it is a bit more politically liberal than traditional Catholic publications doesn't mean it is too far left.
On civility, there is no doubt that we must be firm in fighting for the right to life. But that doesn't mean we have to drop civility. Civility doesn't have to include appeasing the opposite side with meaningless kind words, while compromising our own beliefs. Check out the Catholic Online article "Bishop Peña Asks President Not to Come to Notre Dame: Open Letter to Two Presidents".
Pax on America's b-day.
Bulbajer,
You said...
"civility is always a good thing to have. Barack Obama is not the devil, although he is probably being misled by him. The time to drop civility is when you are dealing with someone who knows full well the horror of his ways and yet still does them."
...so which is it? I certainly agree with the latter, and believe that we are at that point with BHO.
I agree that BHO is NOT the Devil(and never said so) but he definitely is being misled by the Prince of Darkness.
You may not believe that Mr Kmiec and the National Catholic Reporter are members of the "Fifth Column" but I would suggest you re-read Deacon Keith's recent article about the "Fifth Column". They certainly meet the criteria for inclusion.
Ditto Tyler.
By all means, I will pray for Amb. Kmiec.
He thinks himself prolife. This unfortunate fellow is delusional. Does he read his own writings?
JDS, civility is always a good thing to have. Barack Obama is not the devil, although he is probably being misled by him. The time to drop civility is when you are dealing with someone who knows full well the horror of his ways and yet still does them. I appreciate the Deacon for emphasizing civility.
By the way, I don't think the National Catholic Reporter is a member of the "fifth column". They do respect Obama and some of his policies, but they (for the most part) are pro-life.