Kurt Martens , professor, canon law, was quoted in an Associated Press story on a papal investigation of the Knights of Malta. See below.

From: Associated Press (via News Tribune) Date: Dec. 27, 2016

... Kurt Martens, professor of canon law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, says the pope's investigation was complicated, given the sovereign nature of both the order and the Holy See under international law.

"The way it has been perceived, it's as if they're looking into the order, and that's why there is the backlash from the order," he said in a phone interview.

Martens also suggested nominating Knights of Malta members as part of the pope's commission could be problematic.

"It makes sense that you ask members" because they are familiar with the order, he said. "But then you have a huge conflict of interest because they are investigating their 'head of state.'"

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