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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US denies naming Vatican envoys | US denies naming Vatican envoys |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| White House officials have denied any candidates have been proposed for the post of US ambassador to the Vatican. | White House officials have denied any candidates have been proposed for the post of US ambassador to the Vatican. |
| A senior White House official told the BBC that they had "not floated any names with the Vatican". | A senior White House official told the BBC that they had "not floated any names with the Vatican". |
| The news follows reports that at least three candidates had been informally proposed by the Obama administration but rejected by the Vatican. | The news follows reports that at least three candidates had been informally proposed by the Obama administration but rejected by the Vatican. |
| The candidates were said to have been unacceptable because of their support for abortion rights. | The candidates were said to have been unacceptable because of their support for abortion rights. |
| One of those named a potential candidate was Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the former US president. | One of those named a potential candidate was Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the former US president. |
| Conservative Catholics in the US had already criticised her candidacy, saying her outspoken pro-choice views on abortion made her an unsuitable choice. | Conservative Catholics in the US had already criticised her candidacy, saying her outspoken pro-choice views on abortion made her an unsuitable choice. |
| 'Unreliable' | 'Unreliable' |
| The Vatican is unhappy about President Barack Obama's support of abortion rights and his lifting of a previous ban on embryonic stem cell research in the US. | The Vatican is unhappy about President Barack Obama's support of abortion rights and his lifting of a previous ban on embryonic stem cell research in the US. |
| Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi has described media speculation about the selection of the next US ambassador to the Holy See as "unreliable". | |
| He said that the US had not yet officially submitted any names. | He said that the US had not yet officially submitted any names. |
| Since the US established formal diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 1984, the ambassadorial post has always been held by pro-life Catholics under both Republican and Democrat administrations. | Since the US established formal diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 1984, the ambassadorial post has always been held by pro-life Catholics under both Republican and Democrat administrations. |
| The ambassador will replace Mary Ann Glendon, a Harvard University professor who held the post during George W Bush's presidency. | The ambassador will replace Mary Ann Glendon, a Harvard University professor who held the post during George W Bush's presidency. |