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Pastoral Letter from Bishop Olmsted and Bishop Nevares Regarding Recent Abuse Scandals August 17, 2018 Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, We write you this day to express our own deep level of sadness and anger about the recent revelations surrounding Archbishop Theodore McCarrick and the newly released Pennsylvania Grand Jury report. These shameful and evil actions have harmed many innocent people, especially the young; and they are utterly inexcusable. This has also caused great pain, confusion and dismay among us all — laity, religious and clergy — who remain committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are sorry...

The Phoenix diocesan newspaper, with endorsement from the bishop, is urging area Catholics to petition for an end to abortion clinic funding by the local branch of one of the largest breast cancer foundations in the country.  The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation donated $25,000 to Planned Parenthood of Central and Northern Arizona, after the fundraiser Race for the Cure raised $1.8 million last month.  The money was designated for programs providing “breast health education and early cancer detection in Coconino, Gila, Maricopa and Yavapai Counties.”  The diocesan newspaper the Catholic Sun, in an editorial yesterday, objected to the...

Fresh from presiding over the funeral liturgy of Archbishop Paul Marcinkus, Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix (ordained in an arena) is freshly embroiled in a new controversy: denying the Eucharist to a ten year-old autistic boy who can't swallow the host. Because of his condition, Matthew Moran cannot swallow foods with certain textures. So Matthew, who received his First Communion nearly three years ago in Pennsylvania, participates in Communion in an unusual way. As his father watches, the boy takes the Communion wafer and places it in his mouth. His father, Nick Moran, then removes it and consumes the host...

According to published reports, Bp. Olmstead of the Diocese of Phoenix has stated a 10-year-old, moderately-to-severely autistic boy should not be given Communion until it is demonstrated that the boy can receive the Host (which he apparently does reverently for some seconds) without then spitting it out (due to its texture which the boy's condition makes intolerable for him). Other shapes and sizes of Hosts have been tried without success, as has offering him the Eucharist under the appearance of Wine. Till now, the boy's father has been taking his son's Host and consuming it himself, an obviously loving...

‘No Longer Silent’ supporters asked to seek ‘love and truth’ No Longer Silent Update Following is the text of the letter sent by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted to the nine Catholic priests who signed their support to the “No Longer Silent Phoenix Declaration.” PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL Dear Father, Recently, I became aware that you and a few other priests of our Diocese have signed a document entitled “No Longer Silent Phoenix Declaration.” I am deeply saddened by this fact. While I can readily understand and agree with your desire to affirm the dignity of homosexual persons and to stand in...

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted The blessing of a chaste life The pastoral care of homosexual persons Second in a Series A few weeks ago, I sent a letter to some priests of the Diocese of Phoenix, asking them to withdraw their support from a public statement entitled “No Longer Silent Phoenix Declaration.” The letter was intended to be personal and confidential because I had hoped to engage these brother priests in a person-to-person conversation about the pastoral care of homosexual persons, without the distraction of publicity. To my disappointment, news of the letter was leaked to the press. While not...