Bishop Olmsted of Phoenix Diocese

Will the power of the cross shine through via Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted regarding the Maricopa County Sheriff via Joe Arpaio?  We are hoping on a miracle that he will publicly denounce Arpaio.

I left the Republican Party for good last year, and am now an independent registered voter supporting independent candidate Mike Stauffer for Sheriff.  In September 2010, I wrote a letter addressed to the Prophet of the  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) a/k/a the Mormon church despite being told by my Mormon faithful friends that the letter would probably fall

(Above) We just put flyers on cars parked at Russell Pearce’s Mormon church announcing Daryl William’s FIRESIDE ON IMMIGRATION lectures regarding “a fireside on immigration.” Daryl Williams was a good Mormon for being an advocate on the immigration issue. **Note: We were chased away from the Mormon parking lot by the Mormon personnel towards the public sidewalk despite the “Visitors Welcome” sign above the Mormon Church doorway.

on deaf ears due to the political and toxic nature of the immigration issue.   I wrote to the Prophet of the Mormon Church because I believed their leadership would be able to influence the Pearce special elections in November 2011.  At one point we were so desperate our members held signs asking members of the Mormon church to help recall Russell Pearce when we held signs in protest outside Mormon Churches in Mesa.

Courageous Mormon leader via Daryl Williams was courageous enough to address approximately 100 Mormon leaders and their community when we held a “Fireside on Immigration” hosted in Mesa, Arizona.   I knew that it would take a good Mormon to oust the bad Mormon in the City of Mesa.

The same holds true with regard to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s race.  I believe it will take a good independent candidate like Mike Stauffer to oust the bad Catholic (via Arpaio) — but not without the help of Catholic leadership.  (It is my understanding Mike Stauffer has a daughter who attends Notre Dame).  The LDS Church stepped up to the plate when they supported the principles of the Mayflower Compact via the Utah Compact, and I hope to see the Arizona Catholic leadership publicly denounce Arpaio.

This is dire and an urgent call to the Arizona Catholic leadership.

Some say the “gospel” is dying when it comes to how we are to treat immigrants and strangers … but I still have a tiny bit of faith that perhaps things will pull through.

From the National Tequila Party Movement:

July 17, 2012

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted
Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona

SUBJECT:  Open Letter to the most Reverend Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted to publicly denounce Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Dear Bishop Olmsted:

As you know, we live in difficult times trying to raise children with strong Catholic values.  In our society, human life is especially under attack, not only from a pro life standpoint, but from ignoring the injustices affecting the incarcerated and vulnerable members of our community.

Although we appreciated the recent Pastoral Statement regarding Freedom of Conscience, your ‘call to action’ fell short of our commitment to the principles outlined in Catholic Social Teachings. The dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. Direct attacks on innocent persons are never morally acceptable, at any stage or in any condition. As the leader of the Catholic Church in Phoenix, it is your responsibility to pay attention to what is going on in our community and raise awareness to such injustices.

You have a responsibility to publically denounce politicians, including Sheriff Joe Arpaio for making a mockery of his Catholic faith. How can we allow Arpaio to continue to profess his Catholic faith when he continues to turn a blind eye to the rising number of Mexicans killed in his jail? When his actions demonstrate that he has abandoned his responsibility to promote life and the dignity of the human person? When his actions continue to demonstrate that he has abandoned a Christian way of life through his corruption and malfeasance?

It is time that the Catholic Church stand up against public figures whose actions are in direct violation to our most basic Catholic teachings. The Second Vatican Council declared that “the future of humanity is in the hands of those men who are capable of providing the generations to come with reasons for life and optimism.”  The actions and behavior of Joe Arpaio are in direct conflict with this declaration.

We urge you to publically denounce politicians that have a history of corruption and violence towards others.

Respectfully submitted

Arizona Catholic Members
Margaret Rose FitzPatrick Reyes, Executive Director of the National Tequila Party Movement
Shirl Ann Mora James, Lead Co-President of the National Tequila Party Movement

CC: Most Reverend Eduardo A. Nevares