A SENIOR US official has recommended that the ambassador to the Vatican, Mr Raymond Flynn, be reprimanded for statements he made contrasting the Pope's concern for the poor with Congress's plans to cut federal social programmes, the New York Times reported yesterday.
The newspaper said that an investigation by the inspector general of the State Department found that Mr Flynn had violated procedures for clearing public statements.
It quoted Ms Jacquelyn Williams Bridgers as stating that Mr Flynn had failed to avoid "the appearance of partisanship in the discharge of official duties".
The New York Times said it had obtained a copy of the report from the office of the North Carolina Republican, Sen Jesse Helms.