I have avoided commenting on this so far, not for lack of interest, but more for lack of time. The Christmas season brings with it many blessings, most of which involve travel, and few of which leave time for writing. Besides, the news about Bishop Olmsted has been all over the web, and I have nothing original to offer to the discussion except my heartfelt support of His Excellency and the courage he has shown. For those who have not checked virtually any other site than this, the long and the short of it is that Bishop Thomas Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix recently removed the title "Catholic" from St. Joseph's hospital because of an abortion performed on their campus. The "other side" has done its best to spin this story, accusing the bishop of punishing the hospital for performing a "life saving" procedure. The reality is this ... an abortion took place. The Bishop has been trying to reform the hospital and its errant procedures, and they have stubbornly ignored His Excellency. They can spin it all they want, but in the end, it is the Bishop that is responsible for the souls under his care.
The Diocese has a special page set up for documentation and news, but from what I can tell, then principle document is this one. So that you are prepared to discuss this issue in public, please read it.
The reason I choose to write about this now is that a video from a press conference surfaced about a week ago. It isn't that it didn't receive a lot of attention - it did. It's that I feel this video speaks volumes of Bishop Olmsted's faith and leadership and therefore deserves to be "resurfaced". Listen to this Bishop - learn from this Bishop. And for the good of our nation and our Church, pass this video along.
By way of introduction, His Excellency is responding to an inquiry about the vast amount of criticism he has suffered in the blogosphere.
Indeed, we are most grateful to Bp. Olmsted! We now know in good conscience, firm faith and via the compassion and example of Jesus, we are Pro-Choice Catholics intent on saving any life that actually can be saved even whilst an 11 week unviable blessed fetus is heading to heaven regardless.
Anon (I would love to address you by name, but you have chosen to leave a comment without taking public responsibility for it),
There seems to be more sarcasm than actual rational discourse in your comment. Perhaps I am misreading your words, and please forgive me if that is the case. If you have a point to make, I welcome to discussion (though I certainly prefer to know who it is I am talking with). If you merely want to dissent, i don't know what to tell you.
Praise God for faithful and diligent successors like His Excellency Bishop Olmsted.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, we are most grateful to Bp. Olmsted! We now know in good conscience, firm faith and via the compassion and example of Jesus, we are Pro-Choice Catholics intent on saving any life that actually can be saved even whilst an 11 week unviable blessed fetus is heading to heaven regardless.
ReplyDeleteAnon (I would love to address you by name, but you have chosen to leave a comment without taking public responsibility for it),
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be more sarcasm than actual rational discourse in your comment. Perhaps I am misreading your words, and please forgive me if that is the case. If you have a point to make, I welcome to discussion (though I certainly prefer to know who it is I am talking with). If you merely want to dissent, i don't know what to tell you.