Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The decisions haven't received much attention, but the Vatican has quietly and informally rejected three potential ambassadors for pro-abortion President Barack Obama. The potential diplomats reportedly were rejected because of their pro-abortion views and inability to improve relations with the Holy See.

The inability of President Obama to appoint an ambassador who will meet with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI and Vatican officials could cause a problem when he is scheduled to make a July trip to Rome.

Italian journalist Massimo Franco reported on the impasse in the Corriere della Sera (Evening Courier) newspaper.

He talked with the Washington Times about the rejections and said they were done informally with Papal staff telling Obama aides that the potential ambassadors were unsuitable because of their abortion views.

"The informal dismissal of the first names whispered in the Obama inner circle is a signal," he said.

Franco also said the Vatican understands that, as a recognized foreign nation, it is free to reject a proposed envoy if it believes the potential diplomat would fail to improve its relations with the United States.

The rejection of the candidates "would suggest that, at least so far, none of the potential Democratic diplomats were considered fit to 'improve relations' with the Holy See."

According to the Times, Franco said the ambassador issues underscore the problem the Catholic Church has with President Obama's pro-abortion position.

The United States established diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 1984 and, since then, all of the ambassadors who have been appointed have been pro-life.

President Bush named three ambassadors during his tenure, including James Nicholson, a former Republican Party chairman, and Mary Ann Glendon, a Harvard University law professor and a celebrated pro-life women's leader.

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