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Posted on 01/06/2004 11:27:34 PM PST by cpforlife.org
PHOENIX, January 5, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Only days after taking on his new position as the Bishop of Phoenix, Thomas J. Olmsted, joined some 200 pro-lifers in praying outside a Planned Parenthood abortuary - on Christmas Eve. The Arizona public reported it as the bishop's first public non-liturgical act as the new bishop.
The bishop's participation, although kept quiet, swelled the numbers at the prayer rally to the largest in several years.
Commenting to the media on his presence at the prayer rally Bishop Olmsted said: "Christmas is a celebration of God becoming one of us, entering fully into our human life, especially as an unborn child in his mother's womb. I am here to pray, not to protest. I am here to pray for the mother and the unborn child, especially those in difficult situations, that they get the help they need."
In an especially powerful statement Bishop Olmsted said, "This is Calvary, an innocent victim is dying here."
He explained his pro-life witness as his duty. "I have a special obligation, especially to Catholics in whatever position they occupy in society, to explain the church teachings and to share the good news about life. That includes politicians," he said.
To pass on your congratulations to Bishop Olmsted email: communications@diocesephoenix.org
See the coverage in the Arizona Republic: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1 224bishop-ON.html (see below)
Bishop prays with anti-abortion activists
Michael Clancy The Arizona Republic Dec. 24, 2003 04:35 PM
He came to pray with young people opposed to abortion, but when Phoenix's new Catholic bishop arrived at the offices of Planned Parenthood on Wednesday morning, he found the largest crowd to gather there in two years.
The word spread quickly among abortion opponents Tuesday afternoon that Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted would lead the rosary, a series of prayers counted off on a string of beads, at the Christmas Eve gathering. As a result, about 200 people, from infants to the elderly, showed up.
The clinic conducted business as usual, and the crowd did not disrupt activities, a Planned Parenthood spokesman said.
It was Olmsted's first non-liturgical public outing since he took over the Phoenix Diocese on Saturday. He said the timing was significant.
"Christmas is a celebration of God becoming one of us, entering fully into our human life," Olmsted said, "especially as an unborn child in his mother's womb."
The abortion issue has garnered increased attention recently:
• A new federal law was passed banning late-term abortions.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering making the so-called "morning-after" pill available without a prescription.
• U.S. bishops, who have stood against abortion since it was legalized in 1973, have started looking at how they can reach out to politicians and others who make legal decisions about abortion.
Olmsted suggested that he would not directly confront politicians on the abortion issue as other Catholic bishops have, pointing out that he is "a spiritual and pastoral leader."
"I have a special obligation, especially to Catholics in whatever position they occupy in society, to explain the church teachings and to share the good news about life. That includes politicians," Olmsted said.
But Christmas Eve was a day for prayer, he said.
"I am here to pray, not to protest," Olmsted said. "I am here to pray for the mother and the unborn child, especially those in difficult situations, that they get the help they need."
The group walked the sidewalks for an hour in front of Planned Parenthood's Seventh Street office. Planned Parenthood is the leading abortion provider in the state. The crowd was orderly and organized, with several walkie-talkies so everyone could follow the prayers. A few people carried signs: "Stop Abortion Now," and "Planned Parenthood kills babies here."
Olmsted wore a lapel pin of two tiny feet, which has become a universal symbol of the movement to outlaw abortions.
"This is Calvary," Olmsted said, referring to the site of Jesus' crucifixion. "An innocent victim is dying here."
Joseph Feldman, who oversees Planned Parenthood's surgery program, said the organization supports the right of citizens to express their views. But he added, "It bothers me that people would protest rather than take meaningful steps" to assist women.
He said the Catholic church "has wonderful policies for the 13th century, but this is the 21st century, and we have a different reality for women who do not want 13 or 14 children."
The Arizona Department of Health Services reported that the number of abortions in Arizona has declined steadily since 1998, when 14,606 abortions were performed. In 2001, 8,226 abortions were reported.
Phoenix Police Detective Harry Sexton said protesters meet at the clinic daily. He said Wednesday's gathering was the largest he could remember in at least two years.
John Jakubczyk, president of Arizona Right to Life, said the gathering was important "as a public statement." But it was just one of many efforts to promote a pro-life commitment, he said.
"We need a level of of responsiveness and outreach to women that would make abortion unthinkable," he said.
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Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted
Bishop of The Diocese of Phoenix
Ordained a priest on July 2, 1973
Installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita on November 17, 1982
Installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix on December 20, 2003
Yeah ... kill the first two or three, and encourage promiscuity so a girl catches an STD or two early on and discovers she's sterile when she finally decides she's ready to conceive and not kill. That's PP's "different reality" ... straight from hell.
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