Phil Lawler comments on Bishop Thomas Olmsted's difficult decision and strong stance involving an abortion at a Catholic hospital:
Yes, it’s a very busy time of the year. But if you can spare just a few minutes from your last-minute shopping and decorating and wrapping and cooking, watch the video of the press conference in which Bishop Thomas Olmstead of Phoenix explains his decision to strip St. Joseph’s Hospital of its “Catholic” designation. This is a wonderful, edifying example of a bishop taking his pastoral responsibility seriously.
The entire video is about 25 minutes long, but you can safely skip over the first half if you have already read the text of the bishop’s formal statement. It’s during the question-and-answer session with reporters that Bishop Olmsted’s attitude becomes unmistakably clear.
No one who watches this performance could harbor the silly notion that Bishop Olmsted enjoyed laying down the law. He was clearly ill at ease, uncomfortable with the situation, but unable to find any honest and honorable way to resolve it without exercising his episcopal authority.
Read the entire post on the Catholic Culture site. Dr. Ed Peters has posted about the moral and canonical issues at stake. Also see this October 2010 Catholic World Report interview with Bishop Olmsted.
Only when the Church is truly moribund could this be a "difficult decision."
Posted by: Fernando Umberto Garcia de Nicaragua, Prefectus Minimus: The Jacksonian Institute | Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 06:59 PM
Worth watching.
Posted by: Sawyer | Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 07:18 PM
Fernando: The unremitting surliness is getting very old and tiresome. We recognize that we can never live up to your version of Catholicism. Duly noted.
Posted by: Carl E. Olson | Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 08:37 PM
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo to Bishop Olmsted!
Posted by: BillyHW | Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 09:06 PM
I could have put it better, true. Apologies. I should have just said that if this was a difficult decision, the Church is in even worse shape than I thought.
Posted by: Fernando Umberto Garcia de Nicaragua, Prefectus Minimus: The Jacksonian Institute | Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 10:20 PM
Very interesting.
I thought Bishop Olmstead could have answered the question about "religious ethics trumping medical ethics" by saying "No, they work together. Perhaps like parent and child, husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, etc.." The question about the possibility of both mother and child dying was important. Bishop Olmstead could have explained more clearly and in greater depth. He might have finished by saying that sometimes it is difficult to be a woman and be a Catholic.
Perhaps also, Bishop Olmstead could have mentioned Mary's pregnancy with Jesus.
It is very good that he also handled the other problems at these hospitals.
Posted by: Dan Deeny | Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 08:15 AM
Thank you Lord for providing strong leaders for your Church. May you likewise strengthen the others in authority or replace them with leaders who are not afraid to do Your Will in guiding Your Church.
Congratulations to Bishop Olmstead for taking this action. I pray that our other Shepherds will do the same, particularly in Catholic education...
Posted by: Dave Lyons | Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 04:23 PM
Strong and courageous shepherds like Bishop Olmstead are EXACTLY what the Church of our time needs. Thank you, Your Excellency!
Posted by: Deacon Harold | Friday, December 24, 2010 at 09:48 PM
The bishop from Phoenix has by now given us, three times, proof of his character and conviction when it comes to substance over form, decrees over leniency, truth over falsehood.
Vast criticism from secularists, seen in papers everywhere, is the obvious result of a deffensive reaction in the presence of a bishop who had the temerity of proceeding with action against abortion. No doubt bishop Olmsted will continue to surprise, disturb and castigate the enemies of our Church. May God bless him.
Posted by: Manuel G. Daugherty Razetto | Saturday, December 25, 2010 at 07:50 AM