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Friday May 21, 2004
Phoenix Bishop Addresses Homosexuality - Lovingly but Without Compromising Truth
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PHOENIX, May 21, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix has issued his second column on the subject of homosexuality. Written with pastoral love and tenderness, the column smashes the false image of angry bishops denouncing homosexual persons. At the same time the Bishop refuses the easy but unfaithful watering down of church teaching in order to gain societal approval.
The column addresses the pastoral care of homosexual persons. The first item under the heading of "what not to do" reads: "Do not see those with homosexual inclinations as problems but as persons, persons whom Jesus redeemed by His Cross, persons called to holiness, persons with an inviolable dignity and an eternal destiny bestowed on them by God, persons like you and me, persons who have a welcome place in our Church." But at the same time the Bishop stresses to pastors, "Do not condone homosexual activity or fail to teach clearly that it, along with all sexual activity outside of marriage, is seriously wrong. We should not presume that others know that homosexual behaviour is wrong. Our silence about it could reinforce that mistaken notion."
In addition Bishop Olmsted calls on pastors and all Catholics to support those with homosexual inclinations with "authentic love and prayer." He explains to pastors: "Should persons you know be engaged in homosexual activity, look for an opportunity to invite them back to the faithful practice of a life of abstinence, assure them of the power of God's mercy to forgive and to bring fresh hope, and pray for their conversion."
The loving-without-compromising-on-the-truth approach of the bishop was also reflected in the private letter he addressed to eight priests in his diocese who had signed a public letter defying church teaching on homosexuality. With fraternal love and fatherly care Bishop Olmsted addressed the priests but did not refrain from calling them in obedience to remove their names from the document.
See the full column:
http://www.diocesephoenix.org/pressRoom/may18.htm
See the letter to the eight priests:
http://www.catholicsun.org/current/bishopLetter.htm
See related LifeSite coverage:
New Phoenix Bishop Shows Impressive Leadership - Dares to Directly Address Homosexuality
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/may/04050603.html
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