Professor Bainbridge...on law, politics, religion, culture & food

Ambassador to the Vatican Glendon

President Bush plans to nominate Harvard law professor Mary Ann Glendon as the new United States Ambassador to the Vatican.  (Technically, I think the correct title is Ambassador to the Holy See.)

Now let’s be clear about something. I am a great admirer of Prof. Glendon. I had to good fortune to meet her back in 2000 and she was delightful. She’s also a brilliant scholar and a very significant public intellectual. She brings to the diplomatic table far more knowledge and expertise than many political appointees.

Having said that, however, I’m a little troubled by the appointment.

Glendon was appointed by Pope John Paul II in 1994 to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, a panel that advises the Roman Catholic church on social policy.

Glendon has served as an adviser to the Vatican in several capacities. In 1995, she was the first woman to lead a delegation of the Holy See at the United Nations Women’s Conference in Beijing. She has also served on the Pontifical Council for the Laity and as a consultant to the Pontifical Council on the Family.

So we’re appointing as the United States’ representative to the Holy See someone who has served the Holy See as a diplomat and advisor. Doesn’t that seem like a conflict of interest?