President Barack Obama has nominated Douglas Kmiec as the next US ambassador to Malta, the White House announced on Thursday.
The Catholic News Agency said Prof. Kmiec was a Catholic and a self-described pro-life law professor "who came under fire last year when he announced his support for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election". It said Prof. Kmiec believed Mr Obama's policies will reduce abortions, even though the President is in favour of legalised abortion.
The Catholic News Service, an American news agency, said Prof. Kmiec originally supported former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a Republican, during the primaries in the 2008 presidential race. When Mr Romney dropped out of the race, he switched his support to Mr Obama and wrote a book explaining how a pro-life Catholic could back the Illinois Democrat despite his support for keeping abortion legal.
It said Prof. Kmiec has talked about his experience of being denied Holy Communion in April 2008 after expressing his support for Obama. "To be separated from the body of Christ is a faith torture. I don't wish that on anyone," the news service quoted him as saying.
Mr Kmiec is currently a professor of constitutional law at the Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California. Earlier in his career, he served as dean of the Catholic University of America and worked in the Office of Legal Counsel for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Speaking at a ceremony to announce the appointment of Mr Kmiec and several other new ambassadors, President Obama said: "I am confident that these fine individuals will represent our nation abroad with distinction and strengthen our diplomatic efforts to meet 21st century challenges. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."
Mr Kmiec's nomination will be sent to the US Senate for confirmation and the new Ambassador is expected to commence his duties later this year, the US Embassy in Malta said. In the meantime Jason Davis will continue to serve as the embassy's Chargé d'Affaires.
The US often appoints Catholics as ambassadors to Malta. Molly Bordonaro (2005- 2009), Anthony Goia (2001-2004), Joseph Paolino (1994-1996) and Sally Novetzke (1989-1993) were all Roman Catholics.