Katholikos Posted November 25, 2003 Share Posted November 25, 2003 The new Bishop of Phoenix has just been announced. He is Thomas J. Olmsted who has been the Bishop of Wichita, Kansas for the last two years. He'll like the weather in Phoenix much better than Kansas. :D Phoenix is the sixth largest city in the United States, after New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Philadelphia. The news said the Diocese of Wichita is about 150,000. So Bishop Olmsted will have a lot more people and problems to deal with than before. Michael Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe, NM, has been our "Apostolic Administrator" since our bishop resigned under fire, amidst scandals of harboring abusing priests and then a fatal hit and run auto accident in which another motorist got his license plate number. So we've been up to our eyeballs in scandal, with the media doing a war dance around the Church. There is 90 days allowed for the transition to take place. I've already got my letter ready listing my complaints. The last bishop (Thomas J. O'Brien) didnt care -- I wrote to him about liturgical abuses and got a response from him that said "I think the liturgies in our diocese are wonderful." He built a new Diocesan Center with a chapel that is totally bizarre and avant-garde. He was a weak bishop who allowed the diocese to be run by a bunch of feminist nuns. Not just my opinion, but it was well known all over the country, according to visiting dignitaries who spoke of it to me. Does anyone know our new Bishop? Any comment about him or any other bishop? JMJ Likos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilroy the Ninja Posted November 25, 2003 Share Posted November 25, 2003 Hopefully your new bishop will be a wonderful asset to your community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p0lar_bear Posted November 25, 2003 Share Posted November 25, 2003 I don't know a lot of details about him, but from what I've heard, he's pretty solid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vianney Posted November 25, 2003 Share Posted November 25, 2003 Might want to hold off on that letter for a lil bit. Im sure the poor guy is going to have 100000000000 things to do when he gets there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p0lar_bear Posted November 25, 2003 Share Posted November 25, 2003 (edited) I second vianney's advice Instead of a letter complaining about the various problems you see, how about a nice letter or card welcoming him to the diocese... Edited November 25, 2003 by p0lar_bear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traichuoi Posted November 25, 2003 Share Posted November 25, 2003 Likos, i'm from arizona too...and am really excited about our new Bishop... i believe the word "stealing" is faulty...when God calls, we as servants and soldiers respond and are not stolen. even if Bishop O'Brien had faults (because of his humanity) he is nevertheless a Bishop, a man who administers sacraments in persona Christi. my point is, it does no good to write letters of complaint or come on here bad mouthing Bishop O'Brien. it'd be more of an encouragement and positive effect on our Diocese if you'd write a letter of encouragement (filled with solutions and ideas) and prayer for Bishop Olmstead's future work here. i believe you, like any other Catholic in phoenix is hurt by some things Bishop O'Brien made mistakes with but our Catholic faith does not call us to judge...nor call us to tear down a person's dignity... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musturde Posted November 25, 2003 Share Posted November 25, 2003 Our priest talked about it something like this in Mass today. He said we know it before it's on the net or in the news. This person's supposed to be from houston though (I think). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muschi Posted November 26, 2003 Share Posted November 26, 2003 Traichuoi- Where did you get that picture/avatar? I did a "double-take" when I saw it. Too weird! ps. I also saw that same pic on an anti-catholic web site. that's why I did the doubletake. Anyway, back to all......... If you run into feminist nuns beware of what they promote. I recently had the great displeasure of hearing the Our Father recited as "Heavenly Creator"! I for my part kept saying Father where appropriate. These abuses sicken and anger me a great deal. Also beware of the promotion of certain types of prayer with an "Eastern flavor". The New Age Movement has been making some strides into our Church and I am very disturbed by it. Has anyone heard of channeling or Centering Prayer? Peace! - Muschi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traichuoi Posted November 26, 2003 Share Posted November 26, 2003 muschi, honestly, i don't remember where i got my avatar...it was a Catholic website (not anti-Catholic)...i am devoutedly Catholic...orthodox at that... i agree that there are abuses of the Catholic faith...especially by "liberal" Catholics. also, be careful not to call these nuns "feminist" nuns. they are false feminists. true feminism lies in modeling after Mary our Mother as is described by Pope John Paul II: http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP951206.HTM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muschi Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 Traichuoi, Please don't misunderstand me. I wasn't questioning your faith when I asked about your avatar. Wherever it came from originally, it still makes me laugh because it looks so funny. I can't picture the Pope doing that, that's why. Also, I appreciate the admonition to be careful not to label people. Point taken and well received. Thanks! I am only concerned about non-orthodox things going on in Catholic retreat centers and anything that calls itself "Catholic" but then advises us through some form of prayer or another to "find ourselves deep within and that's how we'll find God". Basically this type of "teaching" is saying that God is within us and I don't mean in the scriptural sense but that basically, you are god, I am god, wouldn't you like to be a god too? (sorry, I fell prey to an old Dr. Pepper commercial, it won't happen again, but basically, you get the gist. Can anyone tell me what the enneagram has to do with Christianity? I found this as a teaching course for Catholics on retreat on an Australian retreat center web-site. Thanks and God bless! - Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 The enneagram has absolutely nothing to do with christianity at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muschi Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 Thats what I thought, motherofpirl- That's also why I was wondering why a Australian diocesan retreat center was offering a course on it! May God have mercy on us all!!! :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted November 27, 2003 Share Posted November 27, 2003 Write them a letter asking them WHY they are offering it and what is the christian basis of it. Play dumb and naive. Post your answer. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katholikos Posted November 27, 2003 Author Share Posted November 27, 2003 (edited) Traichuoi- Where did you get that picture/avatar? I did a "double-take" when I saw it. Too weird! ps. I also saw that same pic on an anti-catholic web site. that's why I did the doubletake. That pic of the Pope is on a lot of Tony Alamo's literature -- he's another "Jack Chick" type. He makes his living putting out anti-Catholic propaganda (as many do). About the enneagram -- It's taught periodically at the Franciscan Renewal Center (retreat center) in the Diocese of Phoenix. Makes my blood boil. JMJ Likos P.S. They also teach Buddhism. Not from an academic POV, but from a faith perspective. As in, "all religions are equally good." Edited November 27, 2003 by Katholikos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katholikos Posted November 27, 2003 Author Share Posted November 27, 2003 I suppose I have to explain that I meant "stolen" colloquially, since it was taken literally by at least one of you, though I can't imagine why. Obviously, bishops aren't "stolen," they're "kidnapped." That usage was simply a more colorful way of saying he was formerly the Bishop of Wichita (Kansas) for two years before his assignment to Phoenix; it didn't mean that I don't understand the theology of ecclesiastical appointments. Or that the good bishop is here against his will. I'm sure he's glad to be here -- it's a great place to live, and God wants him here. Besides, the former bishop lived (lives?) in a million dollar house and has a gourmet cook on staff. The bishop previous to him lived in one room at the diocesean center. What did I write that "tore down our former bishop's dignity"? I agree that it's destroyed, but I'd disagree about who is responsible. Habitual violations of Church law should be reported to the Bishop. That's the Bishop's job. One is instructed to appeal first to the offending party, then to the bishop, then if no results to the Nuncio, and lastly if no results, to Rome. At least that's the way I read the procedure. Correct me if I'm wrong. My solution and idea is that priests should obey the laws of the Church and teach lay Catholics to do the same. I hope Bishop Olmsted will receive 1000000000 letters just like mine. Maybe he'll understand, then, how serious the problem is in this diocese and do something about it. Peace be to you and to all. JMJ Likos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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