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Phoenix Bishop Thomas OlmstedDiocese of Phoenix

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PHOENIX, Arizona, August 28, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – The Bishop of Phoenix has added his voice to prelates who have come out in support of Vatican whistleblower Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò. 

In a statement his office released today, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted called Viganò “a man of truthfulness.” [Entire statement published below.]

“Although I have no knowledge of the information that he reveals in his written testimony of August 22, 2018, so I cannot personally verify its truthfulness, I have always known and respected him as a man of truthfulness, faith and integrity,” the bishop wrote. 

Joining Olmsted in support of Viganò are Cardinal Raymond Burke, Bishop Athanasius Schneider, and Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland

Olmsted quoted St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians to describe Viganò, whom he has known for 39 years, as a model priest.

“St. Paul says of priests: ‘This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy’ (1 Cor 4:1-2),” Olmsted stated. “That is how I have consistently found Archbishop Viganò.” 

The Bishop of Phoenix said that this was the reason he believes Viganò’s recent testimony about Pope Francis covering up for disgraced former cardinal Theodore McCarrick should be taken seriously and that his claims be thoroughly investigated. 

“Many innocent people have been seriously harmed by clerics like Archbishop McCarrick,” Olmsted concluded. “Whoever has covered up these shameful acts must be brought to the light of day.” 

Viganò, a former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, wrote his eleven-page testimony on August 22. An English translation was released by LifeSiteNews on Saturday night. Since then, Viganò’s character has been impugned by those unwilling to examine his charges of cover up against Pope Francis and other leading prelates in the Catholic Church. 

Olmsted, too, has come in for praise. Phoenix native Loretta Myler, a Catholic mother of four, told LifeSiteNews that her bishop is “very loved” and that he helped heal the diocese after its own clerical sex abuse scandals. A former bishop, Thomas O’Brien, was implicated in covering up for his abusive priests and convicted of killing a cyclist in a hit-and-run accident.

“[Bishop Olmsted] humbly goes about his work being a good shepherd and building up the body of Christ,” Myler said. “Ours school are better and our children safer.” 

Myler is delighted that Bishop Olmsted has spoken out in support of Archbishop Viganò and agrees that the former Nuncio’s testimony must be investigated.

“It should be looked into thoroughly and charitably. We should follow the evidence and leave no stone unturned,” she said. “No person is above the law. Then, when all things are revealed, can we call people and events as they really are. The church MUST be cleansed.”  

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Statement from Bishop Thomas Olmsted Regarding Archbishop Viganò’s Recent Testimony

PHOENIX (Aug. 27, 2018) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix has released the following statement today from the Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix:

“I have known Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò for 39 years. We became colleagues in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See in August 1979, where he had been serving prior to my entrance into this work in service to the ministry of Pope John Paul II.

Although I have no knowledge of the information that he reveals in his written testimony of August 22, 2018, so I cannot personally verify its truthfulness, I have always known and respected him as a man of truthfulness, faith and integrity. St. Paul says of priests: “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy” (1 Cor 4:1-2). That is how I have consistently found Archbishop Viganò.

For this reason, I ask that Archbishop Viganò’s testimony be taken seriously by all, and that every claim that he makes be investigated thoroughly. Many innocent people have been seriously harmed by clerics like Archbishop McCarrick; whoever has covered up these shameful acts must be brought to the light of day.”

+Thomas J. Olmsted

Bishop of Phoenix