Today, the Diocese of Phoenix Hispanic Ministry offers many reasons why Mr. Olmsted is not an advocate for Hispanics.

No justification or rationalization will wipe the slate clean to protect Mr. Olmsted. The truth is the truth.

And the truth is Mr. Olmsted has not filled his oath before Jesus in performing the duties as required by the Code of Canon Law.

Bishops are also bound by their consciences to teach faithfully and to recommit themselves to continued reflection and discussion on how Catholic faith and public service can work together to promote human life and dignity and advance the common good.

The bishop serves as the spiritual leader of the diocese and has responsibility for the pastoral care of all Catholics living within his ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

Thomas J. Olmsted has failed with all the above and consequently, is a colossal failure as bishop. The greatest gift he can give Hispanic Catholics is to resign his office. Even his resignation will not eliminate the anguish and pain his silence has showered on the sufferings of Phoenix migrant Catholics and the pain their sufferings have on Hispanic American relatives and friends.

Background

The Hispanic community is not transparent, monolithic or homogenous. There are too many hidden personal agendas each acting to justify one's advancement or standing in the community.

If there was a neutral individual without motive to provide leadership, unify the Hispanic community and provide one voice, this would truly be God sent.

Literally, God sent ― to turn the world upside down to combat dehumanizing persons and injustice.

There can be no better influence that the head of the church for educating all and building a community based on the teachings of Jesus.

This should be the primary role of the bishop of Phoenix using every resource available to him as bishop but he is no where to be found. Olmsted is silent and in this regard — he is no different than Pope Pius XII was with the extermination of six million Jews.

The role of the bishop

If the prime directive is the prominent guiding principle to protect, tend and feed the community of believers as Jesus asked of Peter, the second directive is as important as the first.

The secondary directive is to build an amalgam from a mixture of different elements into one homogenous egalitarian community.

Romans 10:11-13

For the scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame."

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him.

If there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, why then is there a distinction between white conservative Catholic and Hispanic migrant Catholic?

I once visited Lourdes, France and bathed in the miraculous water from the spring sprouted in the Grotto in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.

I once visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico's most beloved religious and cultural image. The Virgin of Guadalupe is a cultural symbol of significant importance to the Mexican identity. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the second most visited Roman Catholic shrine in the world after the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican.

I have frequently driven the interstate highway system traveling through the mid-west to as far away as Cape Cod.

I do not ever remember seeing a Marian Catholic shrine in the vastness of the United States.

If the appearance of the Virgin Mary to any group of people in the world is a message from God then Mexicans are truly blessed as God's children. 

Yet, there is a distinction between white conservative mid-western Catholics and Hispanic migrant Catholics.

The Phoenix Catholic community is profoundly diverse covering the spectrum from one extreme polar position being white conservative mid-westerns who strongly support the antics of Joe Arpaio of hatred that thrives on dehumanizing and demonizing undocumented immigrants and blames the demise of America on Hispanics to the opposite polar end of the spectrum being Hispanic migrant Catholics who are the actual victims of hate and discrimination imposed by Catholics at the opposite polar position.

There can be no better influence that the head of the church for educating all and building a community based on the teachings of Jesus.

This should be the primary role of the bishop of Phoenix using every resource available to him as bishop but the bishop is no where to be found. Olmsted is silent and in this regard, he is no different than Pope Pius XII was with the extermination of six million Jews.

The Catechism notes Jesus, the Good Shepherd, should be the form of a bishop.

The faithful should be closely attached to the bishop as the Church is to Jesus Christ and as Jesus Christ is to the Father.

The Code of Canon Law states that the diocesan bishop is required to "teach and illustrate to the faithful the truths of faith which are to be believed and applied to behavior."

Canon Law 386 §1. A diocesan bishop, frequently preaching in person, is bound to propose and explain to the faithful the truths of the faith which are to be believed and applied to morals. He is also to take care that the prescripts of the canons on the ministry of the word, especially those on the homily and catechetical instruction, are carefully observed so that the whole Christian doctrine is handed on to all.

While knowing his own faults, a bishop should reach for compassion. He should not refuse to listen to his subjects whose welfare he promotes as of his very own children. All of family trials and tribulations that can occur: despair, loss of hope, depression, fright, injustice, poverty, poor health, poor nutrition, and discrimination all fall into the realm of the bishop succoring the poor, in both body and spirit.

The bishop must play a key role resourcing and inspiring the whole Church who in turn leads and cares for lay people who are daily in the front line of Christian mission — in their homes, schools, communities and workplaces. The bishop is required to teach Christian faith — through preaching, writing, in synods and councils and in the media being involved in the secular world, having links with community leaders in the private sector, the public sector and voluntary service.

Contemporary challenges

In fulfilling their prophetic office, bishops should avail themselves of the opportunity to preach within their diocesan churches as well as the opportunity to spread the teaching of Christ and his apostles through pastoral letters. They should likewise welcome every opportunity to speak on religious matters to special groups whose role in society has a direct influence on public opinion.

The bishop, with the entire Church, must pass judgment upon the deceitful and false messages of the age. We acknowledge an ever growing need to oppose the secularist campaign against the deepest and most basic human rights. Without adopting any particular political form, the bishop must loudly proclaim the truth about injustice even in the face of overwhelming political opposition.

In this regard, it is wrong to remain silent out of a misconceived respect for the separation of Church and State. Indeed, the very distinction between Church and State means the bishop must speak out, without reservation, in favor of human dignity, directly and explicitly, against every form of injustice which jeopardizes the transcendent value of the human person. The Church needs to speak out against violent political agendas and be willing to take on the culture of hate so evident in politics throughout Maricopa County especially in ending dehumanizing and demonizing undocumented immigrants by Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

If the bishop is truly the leader of his people, he should be ready to lead them for the sake of Christ.

Witness of action is the only credible sign

The social and spiritual message of the Church can be made credible only by the witness of action. Only by a sincere and generous reaching out to those in special need, to the poor and marginalized members of society in various personal, communal, and institutional ways can the bishop be an image of Christ emptying himself for the suffering.

Arizona is not Kansas

The Hispanic migrant Catholics of the Diocese of Phoenix are suffering. Yet, Bishop Olmsted is no where to be found.

Why is there no action?

Olmsted is no different than Pope Pius XII's silence on the killing of six million Jews.

Yet, there is a clue why Olmsted is silent and the clue is found on a farm in Kansas.

People from the mid-west are usually conservative, Republican and white. They usually have values much different than those like me born of a Hispanic heritage in Superior, Arizona. We all see things through lenses than were instilled in us by our parents, grandparents, other relatives and our neighborhood friends. All of this influences the values we hold sacred as adults.

Thomas J. Olmsted was born and raised on the family farm in Oketo, Kansas.

The same values white conservative mid-western Catholics from Kansas have in supporting Joe Arpaio are one and the same as the values Olmsted probably believes.

Olmsted like other white conservative mid-western Catholics from Kansas probably see no wrong in dehumanizing and demonizing undocumented immigrants and probably supports Joe Arpaio terrorizing Hispanics.

I recently had several meetings with a Catholic priest about Olmsted. From the first meeting, the priest justified Olmsted's silence by claiming Olmsted is "conservative."

Like this "conservative" label is some how able to justify racism and specifically condone Arpaio dehumanizing and demonizing undocumented immigrants.

There is no justification and there never will be any justification for racism. Someday, Jesus will be the judge of Olmsted's racism.

Olmsted is simply the wrong man, for the wrong time with the wrong values for the predominantly Hispanic Diocese of Phoenix. Undoubtedly, Olmsted would have a better fit as a bishop somewhere in Kansas. Yet, there are now Hispanics in Kansas and remember Paul said "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him." It appears Olmsted is a racist and there is no place for anyone in our Church who is a racist not even in Kansas.

Prayer vigils, empty collection envelopes and black armbands

We should begin a weekly Friday evening prayer vigil praying for the Vatican to get rid of Olmsted. Another way to show disappointment with Olmsted is to stop contributing to Sunday collections. Maybe an empty envelope will send a message and we should begin wearing black arm bands to begin mourning the demise of our Church.

The most important premise from the Documents of Vatican II ― the people are the Church ― not the pope, not the bishop and not the priest ― the people.