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Catholic theologian from Minnesota nominated for Vatican ambassador |
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By Patricia Zapor - Catholic News Service
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Wednesday, 27 May 2009 |
President Barack Obama has nominated prominent Catholic theologian Miguel Diaz to become ambassador to the Vatican.
Miguel Diaz, a prominent Catholic theologian and professor of theology at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., and St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., is pictured in an undated photo. - CNS photo / courtesy of St. Benedict and St. John’s University
Diaz, 45, is a professor of theology at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., and St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn.
In a statement issued late May 27, the White House announced Diaz's
nomination, along with nominees for ambassadors to the United Kingdom,
France, Japan, India and several other countries.
He is a board member of the Catholic Theological Society of America and
former president of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the
United States. His wife, Marian, is an adjunct instructor at St.
Benedict and St. John's.
Diaz served as a member of Obama's Catholic advisory team during the
campaign and was a regular campaign spokesman on Obama's behalf,
particularly in the Spanish-language press.
"I am very honored, grateful, and humbled that President Obama has
nominated me to serve as ambassador to the Holy See," said Diaz in a
statement forwarded to Catholic News Service by the university. "If
confirmed by the U.S. Senate I will continue the work of my
predecessors and build upon 25 years of formal diplomatic relations
with the Holy See. I wish to be a bridge between our nation and the
Holy See."
A native of Havana, Diaz was praised as "a leading Hispanic theologian
in the United States," by Benedictine Abbot John Klassen, chancellor of
St. John's University.
In a comment e-mailed to CNS, Abbot Klassen said Diaz "is a skilled
Trinitarian theologian who is passionate both as a teacher and a
scholar. He is a strong proponent of the necessity of the church to
become deeply and broadly multicultural, to recognize and appreciate
the role that culture plays in a living faith."
Diaz would be the first Hispanic to represent the United States at the
Vatican. Like several of Obama's other prominent nominees — including
Judge Sonia Sotomayor, nominated to the Supreme Court — Diaz comes from
humble beginnings. His father worked as a waiter and his mother did
data entry work, and their son was the first member of the family to
attend college.
Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States, called
Diaz "an excellent choice because he knows very well the United States
and because of his background."
Latin Americans "should be very proud," he told CNS during a symposium
May 28 at The Catholic University of America that the archbishop was
attending. Coincidentally, the topic of the daylong event was the
history of U.S.-Vatican diplomatic relations.
In an interview with CNS during inaugural festivities in January, Diaz
said he thought "the presidency of Barack Obama represents a new
opportunity for all of us" for racial healing.
Diaz said 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.
The announcement of the nomination capped months of speculation about
who Obama would select to represent him at the Vatican. In early April
the Vatican press spokesman took the unusual step of shooting down
persistent rumors that the Vatican had rejected several potential
nominees, including Caroline Kennedy, supposedly because they support
legal abortion.
"Wherever we can, we should advance life at all stages," Diaz said in January.
One White House source described Diaz as "clearly pro-life" and said
the decision to select a respected theologian instead of a big
fundraiser or political mover and shaker is an indication "of how
seriously the administration is taking the relationship with the
Vatican."
Diaz would fill the vacancy created by the departure of Harvard law
professor Mary Ann Glendon, who was named ambassador in 2007 and left
the post in January.
The statement from St John's University noted that Diaz earned his
bachelor's degree from St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Fla.,
and his master's and doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in
Indiana. He previously taught at Barry University in Miami Shores,
Fla.; St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Fla.; the
University of Dayton in Ohio; and Notre Dame. The statement said he is
fluent in Italian, Spanish and French.
The St. John's statement said Diaz's academic interests — besides his
focus on the Trinity — also include theological anthropology and
Latino/Latina theologies.
His published materials include the book "On Being Human: U.S. Hispanic
and Rahnerian Perspectives" (Orbis Books, 2002), for which he received
the Hispanic Theological Initiative's 2002 Book of the Year award from
Princeton Theological Seminary. He also is co-editor of the book, "From
the Heart of Our People: Latino/a Explorations in Catholic Systematic
Theology" (Orbis Books, 1999).
Contributing to this story was John Thavis in Anaheim, Calif.
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