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Obama Picks Theology Prof as Vatican Envoy
High-profile Cuban native would be first Hispanic to hold post
By Matt Cantor
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Posted May 28, 09 11:57 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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President Obama has nominated a Minnesota theologian as his Vatican ambassador, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Miguel Diaz, 45, a Cuban-born professor who would be the first Hispanic US envoy to the Vatican, was an Obama campaign adviser. He was chosen after the Vatican reportedly rejected a series of possible nominees, including Caroline Kennedy, who support abortion rights, AFP adds.
Diaz is part of a project to improve the Hispanic church experience and has worked to better African-Americans’ standing. He is “passionate about the church, about the Trinity—one of his areas of expertise—and especially about bringing people together, even when that includes difficult conversations,” said the dean of St. John’s University, where Diaz has worked since 2004.