The DR ambassador to the Vatican, instead of kicking up a stink about the likes of Weslowski, is whining about the gay US ambassador in Santo Domingo meeting with representatives of gay organisations in the DR. A reasonable reaction from the Dominican government, as reported in today's DR1 News:
Grimaldi is a quixotic character. He is popularly known as 'matapuercos' as his past exploits include shooting dead... a neighbour's pig.
Grimaldi speaks for himself, says Foreign Ministry
Controversial Dominican ambassador to the Vatican, former journalist Victor Grimaldi is again making headlines for his extreme positions.
The Dominican government has distanced itself from statements by the Dominican ambassador to the Holy See Victor Grimaldi regarding US ambassador James Bewster meeting with representatives of the DR gay community.
In a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Relations said that "the unfortunate statements by Ambassador Grimaldi were made on a personal level and do not reflect the Dominican government position."
The Ministry adds: "The Dominican government recognizes the work that ambassador James Brewster is carrying out on an wide range of topics on the bilateral agenda."
The note was made public hours after Grimaldi warned deputy minister of Foreign Relations Jose Manuel Trullols that he did not accept what he deemed as threats from the Ministry after the latter reportedly called him after he sent a letter to Pope Francis. In the letter to the Pope dated Thursday, 13 February, Grimaldi links Brewster and the gay community in the DR to a campaign to "dethrone" Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez. The Cardinal is due for retirement as he is over the retirement age of 75.
The cardinal has been critical of Brewster's appointment as US ambassador to the Dominican Republic, given the latter's high profile as a gay rights activist.
In the letter to Pope Francis, Grimaldi presented as "proof" a news story that appeared in El Nacional on the meeting between the ambassador and representatives of the gay community in the Dominican Republic.
In the letter, the Dominican ambassador goes on to recall that the Dominican Constitution in its Art. 55 establishes that marriage is between a man and a woman. Prior to traveling to the Dominican Republic to serve as US ambassador, Brewster married his long-time male partner.
The 13 February news story in El Nacional reported on a commission of 15 gay organizations that were received by the US ambassador for a review of their struggles for their rights in the Dominican Republic. As reported, the local activists discussed their achievements, current obstacles, lack of anti-discrimination laws, and the influence of the Catholic Church in decisions taken by legislators given the absence of a secular state in the country, and HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives.
Grimaldi denuncia ante el Papa que embajador EEUU y gays quieren "destronar" al Cardenal - Acento
Grimaldi is a quixotic character. He is popularly known as 'matapuercos' as his past exploits include shooting dead... a neighbour's pig.