Phoenix, Ariz., May 25, 2004 / 22:00 pm
In a letter to the Arizona Republic, Bishop of Phoenix Thomas J. Olmsted said yesterday that an article printed by the newspaper on May 21 under the title “Bishops won’t link politics, Communion” misrepresents his position on the issue.
The Arizona Republic's article authored by Michael Clancy reported that "Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix said that instead of refusing to offer Communion, he will attempt to use persuasion to educate politicians about church teachings."
Clancy also said that "Olmsted's position puts him at odds with several conservative bishops, including Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis and Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs, who in a letter earlier this week said any Catholic who votes for a politician who backs abortion rights cannot receive Communion."
In his response to the article, Bishop Olmsted wrote that "abortion is the killing of a completely innocent life and thus bad news for both unborn children and their mothers. It is a horrible wrong. It is intrinsically evil. We have a serious obligation to protect human life, and especially the most innocent and vulnerable."