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A new ambassador to the Vatican and vain hopes for healing divisions among Catholics in the United States
By Robert Mickens | Vatican City
In the end, President Joe Biden chose a fellow Catholic to be the United States' next ambassador to the Holy See.
Just like we all thought he would.
The White House announced on October 8 that Biden's nominee for the post at the Vatican is former Democratic senator from Indiana, Joe Donnelly.
Born and raised in the faith of his Irish Catholic ancestors, the 66-year-old husband and father of two adult children earned both his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Notre Dame (ND), arguably the most iconic Catholic institution in America.
Some of us had actually hoped Biden would not appoint a Catholic to the Vatican post.
Eleven people have represented the United States to the Holy See since 1984, the year the two states formally established full diplomatic relations. And every one of those envoys has been a Catholic. But there are very good -- if counter-intuitive -- reasons why bucking that trend could actually be advantageous to Mr. Biden, as well as to the country, the Vatican and the Church.
Those lines appeared in the "Letter from Rome" last January, even before the inauguration of only the second Catholic president in US history.
"President Biden, send a non-Catholic ambassador to the Vatican," was the title of that piece.
"The incoming president has said that one of his goals is to bring unity to his deeply divided country. But that will remain impossible as long as Catholics in the United States remain divided in two opposing camps," the column argued.
"Could Biden find a single a member of his Church in the United States right now who could, on the one hand, faithfully represent him and his policies before the pope and his papal aides and, on the other hand, win the confidence of that large faction of anti-Biden Catholics?" the piece asked.
Judging by early reaction to Joe Donnelly's nomination, the answer to that question is, at best, "not likely".
Catholics who are generally considered Biden supporters applauded the move.
For example, the National Catholic Reporter and other more moderate-to-progressive Church-related publications, such as America, described the lawyer and former politician as a "pro-life Democratic".
But Catholics of a more conservative bent -- both politically and doctrinally -- said that description was not quite right.
"Worse, Donnelly is not only at odds with the Catholic Church on abortion, he is pro-gay marriage, against religious liberty, and against school choice," charged Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League.
He actually called Donnelly a "rogue Catholic".
"Joe Donnelly will serve our nation well"
Donahue argued that the former senator had started his political career "mostly in line with the policy prescriptions of the Catholic Church" only to become "a foe of the Church's moral teachings".
In fact, Donnelly has been called a "waffler" by militant anti-abortion groups.
And as Donahue points out, Donnelly's voting record -- as a three-term congressman and a single-term senator -- "evolved" over time.
"When Donnelly served as a congressman from Indiana (2007-2013), he was pro-life, but when he became a U.S. Senator (2013-2019), he pivoted and joined the pro-abortion camp," the Catholic League president claimed.
"There is a reason why Donnelly was co-chair of Catholics for Biden. Like our 'devout Catholic' president, he turned rogue," Donahue said mockingly.
But one of Donnelly's former colleagues in the US Senate, a non-Catholic, was absolutely sincere in his assessment of the ambassadorial nominee.
"Joe is a devout Catholic and longtime public servant, and I know he will serve our nation well," said Republican Senator Todd Young of Indiana, who also opposes abortion.
The University of Notre Dame's president, Reverend John Jenkins, said Donnelly (who teaches part-time at ND) is "an ideal choice to represent the United States at the Vatican".
"He will bring to this role a deep understanding of the issues currently facing our nation and the world, a genuine Catholic faith and an understanding of the role the Church can play in our world," Jenkins predicted.
But why is it so important that the United States -- which is not a Catholic country in any sense of the term -- has a Catholic represent it at the Vatican? The ambassador represents the current administration and the entire country, not people of a particular religion.
In fact, it would be better if the envoy were not a Catholic, especially since the Church in the United States has become so divided precisely over national political differences.
"No matter which Catholic Biden chooses, (the very choice) will likely further the divisions and further politicize the Church," this column argued back in January.
But unless something completely unexpected happens, Joe Donnelly will be the next US ambassador to the Holy See.
And, so, the divisions will likely deepen. Because for one side of the Church's divide in America a guy named Donnelly is not devout enough.
Follow me on Twitter @robinrome
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