8 Priests Ignore Phoenix Bishop Olmstead

AZ Central ^ | May 6, 2004 | Michael Clancy

[eastsider]

Have you seen this article from today's edition of the East Valley Tribune?

O’Brien accused of cheating probation
By Gary Grado, Tribune

The judge who sentenced Bishop Thomas J. O’Brien to 1,000 hours of community service told the probation department Tuesday not to investigate an allegation that the former Catholic leader is cheating on his hours.

A relative of a worker at Huger Mercy Living Center, 2345 W. Orangewood Ave. in Phoenix, phoned the allegation into the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, saying O’Brien is logging six hours when he shows up there for only an hour. County Attorney Richard Romley announced the allegation Tuesday and complained about the lack of oversight of O’Brien’s probation.

But no formal complaint has been submitted to the probation department, and any investigation now would be premature because O’Brien’s logs are due quarterly, said J.W. Brown, a Maricopa County Superior Court spokeswoman.

"There’s nothing to investigate," Brown said.

Logs that O’Brien has submitted so far show the most he has ever claimed at Huger Mercy Living Center was three hours, said Mike Goss, spokesman for the county Adult Probation Department.

Romley said he will pass on the allegations to probation.

"My point is, it is very difficult for the court to provide adequate oversight when you have the person doing the reporting, deciding where to go without probation really being in control of that process," Romley said. "Historically, probation always says you shall go to hospice, you shall go to Good Sam, you shall go to St. Joseph’s, and they check with them to see if they were there."

Judge Stephen Gerst set up O’Brien’s probation differently from others’ in that the bishop keeps track of his own hours and chooses where he wants to serve, Goss said. Normally, probationers do their community service at agencies that contract with the county and the time is closely monitored.

But Gerst told the probation department not to strictly monitor O’Brien, Goss said.

In a statement released Tuesday, O’Brien said he has been in frequent contact with the probation offices, and they have been "cooperative."

"I firmly and categorically deny the county attorney’s allegations, based on phone calls that I misreported my community service hours," he said. "I believe that the visits I have made have been satisfying to the sick and the elderly and to me."

A jury found O’Brien guilty Feb. 17 of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Gerst sentenced O’Brien March 26 to three years’ probation in which he is required to perform 1,000 hours of community service tending to the sick, dying and disabled.

[undirish01]

They already are on EWTN.

Fr. Bill Casey, Fr. Shannon Collins, and Fr. Wade Menesez (sp).

You see the latter two usually on Sunday evenings at Benediction at 6PM CT. Fr. Collins was on an episode of EWTN Live with Deacon Bill and gave a great witness of the truth about priestly celibacy.

Fr. Casey gave a mission at Hanceville which has aired on Sundays during Lent the last three years. He has also been on Mother Angelica Live.

Yep, like the ol' baseball term, these guys can "bring it".

All three have tapes available via Saint Joseph Communications.

[marshmallow]

The laity also have a role in these situations. They need to support their bishop and the most effective and non-confrontational way of doing this is by simply vacating the pews of the parishes where these priests are located and going elsewhere - where this is practical, of course. Where this is not practical, withholding one's weekly contribution is another option.

No need to get into heated situations where abuse is hurled at the priests, names are called and bad feelings are generated. FR-style flame wars are not needed here. Simply follow the example of Jesus and the apostles and shake the dust from your feet and move on.

Let these priests feel the loneliness of that place where they have placed themselves. Outside the Catholic mainstream.

[Phx_RC]

For the Current NLS List go to: List of the signers of the No Longer Silent Declaration

On this list in addition to the 3/31/2004 names is a NEW name: Rev. Nils F. Thompson, OFM, Phoenix

Names that have been removed from the March 31, 2004 List:
L#19-- Rev. Scott Brubaker, pastor, St. Bridget, Mesa.
L#25-- Rev. Chris Carpenter, pastor, Christ the King, Mesa.
L#87-- Rev. Ray Ritari, pastor, St. Matthew, Phoenix.

Names still on the List as of May 6, 2004 @ 4PM:
L#15-- Rev. Andre Boulanger, retired.
L#31-- Rev. John Cunningham, pastor, St. Mary Magdalene, Gilbert.
L#48-- Rev. Hugo Gonzalez, pastor, St. Charles Borromeo, Peoria.
L#63-- Rev. Matthew Mampara, associate, St. Mary Magdalene.
L#70-- Rev. Vernon Meyer, Sunday associate, St. Patrick, Scottsdale.
L#110- Rev. Nils F. Thompson, OFM, Phoenix [Not yet mentioned in the Press***]
L#113- Rev. Ken Van de Ven, pastor, St. James, Glendale.
L#120- Brother Doug Zlatis of St. Matthew.

Here and following is some info about these names.

[chatham]

If these recalcitrant Priests are Homosexual they should remove their names from the Priesthood.
If they won't remove their names from the letter as the Bishop requests the Bishop should remove the priests names from the Payroll sheet at the Diocese.
We've really had enough from the aberrant wing of the Catholic Church.
Without discipline ,there remains only chaos.

[NYer]

We've really had enough from the aberrant wing of the Catholic Church. Without discipline ,there remains only chaos.

You may draw some comfort from these two threads. Some of the bishops have begun to act more quickly.

Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese excommunicates Priest - Fr. Hausen

Boston Archdiocese Says Pope Defrocked Two Priests

[Siobhan]

YES! The Fathers of Mercy! They would send these lavendar boys right across the street into the Phoenix Methodist Conference where they belong with the Rev. David Felten.

[steve8714]

Probably under order authority rather than diocesan.

[Phx_RC]

News update

The Arizona Republic -- News online print edition
May. 7, 2004 12:00 AM

Three more Catholic priests have taken their names off the pro-gay Phoenix Declaration at the request of Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted.

The Rev. Scott Brubaker, pastor of St. Bridget Catholic Church in Mesa; the Rev. Ray Ritari, pastor of St. Matthew in Phoenix; and the Rev. Ken Van de Ven, of St. James in Glendale, have joined the Rev. Chris Carpenter, pastor of Christ the King in Mesa, in removing their names. Five others have yet to request removal of their names, and one said he will keep his name on the statement.

[saradippity]

Thanks for the information. I was out and about yesterday so I relied on the radio while driving around. It was a virtual,audio-kaliedescope focused on Church news and positons of the various characters,and there are a lot of them (characters,that is)!!

I do wonder how the xbishop gets around to meet the requirements of his probation. Aftr all his driver's licence was suspended. Does the diocese pay for a driver for him? Does the driver remain at the facility while he ministers to the sick and dying? How much is this costing? Does the driver fill out time logs? I think I will pursue this,after all "enquiring minds need to know",I think.

Thanks also for the info on Dignity,so much goes on around here that I forgot all about that little mass that they had at the church down there. We had apprised O'Brien of it,probably 5 years ago. I don't think that letter even merited a perfunctory,"thankyou for sharing that information,we will be looking into it" response.

[Phx_RC]

Well here in AZ it is 1:45PM, do you know where your NLS priest is?

Rev. Van de Ven's name still appears on the Current NLS List
even though the news update above said that it was removed.

[victim soul]

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted

The blessing of a chaste life

The call to holiness of homosexual persons

http://www.catholicsun.org/bishopColumn.htm

When the Church at Vatican II lifted high the universal call to holiness, it rightly received an enthusiastic response. For it is indeed good news for people of every time and place. How good to know that it is possible for us all to have a close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and even to become like Him.

God creates each person in love. He redeems each with a love even unto death on the Cross. He calls each of us to share in this amazing love by taking up our cross each day and following in His footsteps. There is only one road to holiness, one way to a profound communion with Christ (Mark 8:34-35): “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it.”

It seems especially urgent to remind every follower of Christ today, and in particular homosexual persons, that He is calling them to a close personal communion with Himself. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) speaks of this call to holiness of homosexual persons in the following way (#2359): “Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.”

The journey to holiness always requires a firm belief in the word “can.” We can be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. We can be holy. It is not an impossible dream for anyone. Growth in holiness requires the help of God and it requires effort on our part, but we can do it. It begins with the grace of conversion, turning away from sin and turning towards the Lord. It requires obedience to God’s will, for as Jesus tells us (John 14:15), “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

In order to progress along the road to holiness, the Holy Spirit helps us to forge virtues, i.e. habits for good. Homosexual persons particularly need to focus their efforts on developing the virtue of chastity. Chastity is defined in the Catechism (#2337) as “the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being.” Every human person is called to integrate their sexuality according to their state in life. Chastity will always involve abstinence for those who are not married. Other virtues are also needed but chastity stands front and center for persons with a homosexual inclination. This is because homosexual acts are always wrong, always the opposite of holiness.

However, persons who have homosexual inclinations but do not act on them are not guilty of sin. In fact, with God’s grace and good intentions, they can grow in virtue and make great progress along the path to perfection, the goal to which the Lord Jesus has called us all.

Necessary distinction

A key distinction, then, is needed when considering homosexuality, namely between the homosexual tendency on the one hand and homosexual acts on the other. Those who engage in homosexual acts commit serious sin, as both the Old Testament and New Testament teach (Cf. Genesis 19:1-29, Romans 1:18-32, I Timothy 1:10) and as Christian Tradition has consistently affirmed (Cf. Catechism, #2357).

Those with homosexual inclinations are sometimes tempted to believe that chastity is beyond them. They may incorrectly feel that just to have a homosexual tendency makes them guilty of sin and excludes them from growing in holiness. At times, they may also encounter these kinds of confused and false attitudes in others and unjustly suffer because of them. In the face of all these difficulties, the love of Christ remains constant and His call to conversion and holiness never fails. No less than other persons, Christ calls them to take up their cross each day and follow after Him.

The Cross of Christ, in our own day just as 2000 years ago, seems like foolishness to some and nonsense to others but as St. Paul writes (I Cor 1:24), Christ crucified is “the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Those who take up the cross each day out of love for Jesus find themselves flooded with the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” And St. Paul adds (Gal 5:24-25), “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.”

All who follow Christ can and are called to live the virtue of chastity. What a blessing when, with God’s grace, we do so. What a blessing when we freely and gladly embrace the Lord’s call to holiness.

[Phx_RC]

For the Current NLS List go to: List of the signers of the No Longer Silent Declaration

Names that have been removed from the March 31, 2004 List:
L#17--Rev. Scott Brubaker, pastor, St. Bridget, Mesa. ..[was listed as #19]
L#25--Rev. Chris Carpenter, pastor, Christ the King, Mesa.
L#31--Rev. John Cunningham, pastor, St. Mary Magdalene, Gilbert. ***
L#87--Rev. Ray Ritari, pastor, St. Matthew, Phoenix.
L#113-Rev. Ken Van de Ven, pastor, St. James, Glendale. ***

Names still on the List as of May 7, 2004 @ 5PM AZ:
L#15--Rev. Andre Boulanger, retired.
L#48--Rev. Hugo Gonzalez, pastor, St. Charles Borromeo, Peoria.
L#63--Rev. Matthew Mampara, associate, St. Mary Magdalene.
L#70--Rev. Vernon Meyer, Sunday associate, St. Patrick, Scottsdale.
L#110-Rev. Nils F. Thompson, OFM, Phoenix [Not yet mentioned in the Press***]
L#120-Brother Doug Zlatis of St. Matthew.

[kstewskis]

I heard about this on the news.

WHY does this not surprise me?

[chatham]

I am an Ex NYer now living on Cape Cod and I read about Shanley who should have been defrocked and put out of the Church years ago.
My suspicions are that the Vatican only moved on this now because Shanley is coming up for trial in the next few weeks and they don't want to see him in Priestly Garb.
Cardinal Law should be on trial with Shanley and prosecuted for aiding and abetting, and obstruction of Justice.
Thanks for the info, i look to see justice in the Shanley Trial.

[chatham]

I am an Ex NYer now living on Cape Cod and I read about Shanley who should have been defrocked and put out of the Church years ago.
My suspicions are that the Vatican only moved on this now because Shanley is coming up for trial in the next few weeks.
Thanks for the info, I look to see justice for the Victims in the Shanley Trial.