Bishop in the Desert: An Interview with Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix

Catholic Exchange.com ^ | 09-09-05 | Valerie Schmalz

[Salvation]

For your information and discussion. BTW, one of the good shepherds!

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

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[Smartass]

Kudos to Bishop Olmsted -- He's calling right.

THANKS FOR     THE PING

[sockmonkey]

He is definitely just about my favorite American Bishop.
Kudos to Bishop Olmsted, and may he continue being a Shepherd to the people in the Phoenix Diocese for many years.

[ArrogantBustard]

My first duty as a bishop is to be, as far as possible, united with Christ. So fidelity to Him each hour of every day is my biggest priority and I think that’s a big challenge!

And everything else, I think, follows from this.

[kstewskis]

Showing off our wonderful Bishop *PING!*

[Victoria Delsoul]

My duty as a bishop is pretty much what the Church asks me to be. Those duties are usually broken into the three categories of teaching, sanctifying, and governing. All three of those are ones I try to do and keep in mind when I review my ministry on a regular basis, whether it be in spiritual direction or a day of prayer. I think that the sanctifying category is the one that was the easiest to get accustomed to as a bishop because as a priest you’re already celebrating sacraments, and the Eucharist is the center of each day, so that wasn’t a big adjustment. But the higher profile in terms of teaching and governing would have to be the bigger challenges.

God bless him.

[RobbyS]

Seems to be a good guy.

[Maeve]

"The Church has great care for its greatest treasure — and that greatest treasure is the Eucharist."

And this bishop is perhaps the greatest treasure in the Episcopate in the USA.

[Northern Yankee]

Valerie Schmalz: There are a lot of Catholic politicians who will say, "I disagree with the Catholic Church on abortion, gay marriage, and embryonic stem-cell research, but I’m a practicing Catholic."

How can they be a practicing Catholic if they don't follow Catholic teachings?

That whole concept is illogical and idiotic.

I like your bishop.

[Northern Yankee]

Our former Bishop, Arch-Bishop Burke, was very good in letting pro-choice Catholic politicians know that they were not in communion with Catholic teachings.

Unfortunately he caught a lot of flack from Catholics who are ignorant of Catholic teachings or canon law.

[stocksthatgoup]

Nice to see Conservative Bishops taking charge.

[Northern Yankee]

Nice to see Conservative Bishops taking charge.

I agree!

[CatQuilt]

Showing off our wonderful Bishop *PING!*

Quit your bragging...just kidding! He's wonderful. You must be very happy!

[Maeve]

If he would have a Solemn Consecration of his diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we would move their in a heartbeat.

A Solemn Act of Consecration
to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world.

Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world.

O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully.

We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home.

Amen.

Our American bishops need to renew the solemn consecration of America, and if they won't (and they won't) then each bishop for his own diocese, and if not each bishop, then each parish, and no matter what, each of us for our own homes and in our lives should and can and must.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Unfortunately he caught a lot of flack from Catholics who are ignorant of Catholic teachings or canon law.

Yep, for a bunch of them Catholicism is just a social event.

[tiki]

I pray for God to give us hundreds of bishops like him.

[Maeve]

A ditto to your prayer.

[Northern Yankee]

Yep, for a bunch of them Catholicism is just a social event.

Yes ma'am!

[azcap]

As a non-Catholic Arizonan, I can say that Olmstead is not just good for the Phoenix Diocese but for all Arizonans. He has waded right into the most important social political struggles in our state. Unlike too many weak clergyman he is not afraid to pronounce religious counsel on government.