Thomas J. Olmsted
Encyclopedia
Thomas Olmsted is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the fourth and current Bishop of Phoenix
, having previously served as Bishop of Wichita
from 2001 to 2003.
, to Pat and Helen Olmsted; he has two brothers and three sisters. Raised on a farm in Beattie
, he attended a single-room grade school
and a small rural high school
in Summerfield
. He then studied at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Denver, Colorado
, where he obtained a B.A. in Philosophy
in 1969.
to the priesthood
on July 2, 1973, for the Diocese of Lincoln
, Nebraska
. He then served as an associate pastor
at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ until 1976, when he began his doctoral
studies in Rome
.
Olmsted earned a doctorate in canon law
summa cum laude
from the Pontifical Gregorian University
in 1981, and served as an official in the Vatican Secretariat of State from 1979 to 1988. During his time in Rome, he was also an assistant spiritual director
at the Pontifical North American College
.
Upon his return to the United States
in 1989, Olmsted was named both pastor
of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Seward
and Promoter of Justice for the Diocesan Tribunal
. He later became Dean
of Formation (1993) and President-Rector
(1997) at the Pontifical College Josephinum
in Worthington, Ohio
.
of Wichita, Kansas
, by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following April 20 from Bishop Eugene Gerber
, with Archbishop James Keleher
and Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz
serving as co-consecrators
, at the Century II Convention Center
. He selected as his episcopal motto
: Jesus Caritas, or "Love of Jesus", the name of the priestly fraternity, founded by the Blessed
Charles de Foucauld
, to which he has belonged since 1974. He succeeded Eugene Gerber as the seventh Bishop of Wichita
upon Gerber's retirement on October 4, 2001.
, Arizona
, on November 25, 2003. Formally installed
on December 20 of that year, he replaced Bishop Thomas O'Brien
, who resigned after being arrested for his involvement in a fatal hit-and-run car accident
.
at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
. McBride allowed doctors to perform an abortion on a mother of four who was 11 weeks pregnant and suffering from pulmonary hypertension
. Hospital doctors had estimated that the woman's chance of dying if she continued the pregnancy was "close to 100 percent".
McBride has been accused of permitting a "direct abortion," which according to the Catholic Church's position is always wrong. The Diocese of Phoenix
stated that she was excommunicated because “she gave her consent that the abortion was a morally good and allowable act according to Church teaching" admitting this directly to Bishop Olmsted. "Since she gave her consent and encouraged an abortion she automatically excommunicated herself from the Church.”
As a result of the above case, and because hospital management would not refuse to perform similar abortions in the future, Olmsted announced on December 21, 2010, that the Diocese of Phoenix was severing its ties with St. Joseph's Hospital in mid-town Phoenix and that the facility could no longer be called "a Catholic hospital". Olmsted is attempting to work with the hospital to help them fulfill requirements of self-identified Catholic institutions. In order to return to full communion with the Catholic Church, McBride would need to admit and confess her sin to a priest through the Rite of Confession.
A poll taken in May, 2011, showed the majority of Catholics surveyed disagreed with Olmsted's decision and felt he had misused his power.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the fourth and current Bishop of Phoenix
Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
-History:The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix in Arizona is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was established on December 2, 1969 when it was split off of the Diocese of Tucson...
, having previously served as Bishop of Wichita
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita is a Roman Catholic diocese in Kansas. It was founded on August 2, 1887, and covers Allen, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Labette, Marion, McPherson, Montgomery, Morris, Neosho, Reno,...
from 2001 to 2003.
Early life
Thomas James Olmsted was born in Oketo, KansasOketo, Kansas
Oketo is a city in Marshall County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 66.-Geography:Oketo is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 87 people,...
, to Pat and Helen Olmsted; he has two brothers and three sisters. Raised on a farm in Beattie
Beattie, Kansas
Beattie is a city in Marshall County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 200. The city has been called "The Milo Capital of the World" and hosts the annual "Beattie Milo Festival".-Geography:...
, he attended a single-room grade school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
and a small rural high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Summerfield
Summerfield, Kansas
Summerfield is a city in Marshall County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 156.-Geography:Summerfield is located at...
. He then studied at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, where he obtained a B.A. in Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy is the title of an academic degree. The degree usually involves considerable research, either through a thesis or supervised research projects...
in 1969.
Priesthood
Olmsted was ordainedHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on July 2, 1973, for the Diocese of Lincoln
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln is a Roman Catholic diocese in Nebraska, and comprises the majority of the eastern and central portions of the state south of the Platte River. The episcopal see is in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was established on August 2, 1887, by Pope Leo XIII...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. He then served as an associate pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ until 1976, when he began his doctoral
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
studies in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Olmsted earned a doctorate in canon law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
summa cum laude
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
from the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in 1981, and served as an official in the Vatican Secretariat of State from 1979 to 1988. During his time in Rome, he was also an assistant spiritual director
Spiritual direction
Spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their own personal spirituality. The person seeking direction shares stories of his or her encounters of the divine, or how he or she is experiencing...
at the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
.
Upon his return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1989, Olmsted was named both pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Seward
Seward, Nebraska
Seward is a city in Seward County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Lincoln, Nebraska Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 6,133 at the 2000 census...
and Promoter of Justice for the Diocesan Tribunal
Ecclesiastical court
An ecclesiastical court is any of certain courts having jurisdiction mainly in spiritual or religious matters. In the Middle Ages in many areas of Europe these courts had much wider powers than before the development of nation states...
. He later became Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of Formation (1993) and President-Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
(1997) at the Pontifical College Josephinum
Pontifical College Josephinum
The Pontifical College Josephinum is a four-year, Roman Catholic liberal arts college and graduate school of theology founded by Monsignor Joseph Jessing in 1888 and located in Columbus, Ohio, USA. The seminary prepares its students to become priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Students come...
in Worthington, Ohio
Worthington, Ohio
-Dissolution of the Company:By August 11, 1804 the plat maps were completed, payments or notes promising payments collected and deeds prepared for all sixteen thousand acres of the Scioto Company's purchase...
.
Bishop of Wichita
On February 16, 1999, Olmsted was appointed Coadjutor BishopCoadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following April 20 from Bishop Eugene Gerber
Eugene John Gerber
Eugene John Gerber is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Dodge City from 1976 to 1982, and Bishop of Wichita from 1982 to 2001.-Early life and education:...
, with Archbishop James Keleher
James Patrick Keleher
James Patrick Keleher was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Belleville and Archbishop of Kansas City .-Early life and education:...
and Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz
Fabian Bruskewitz
Fabian Wendelin Bruskewitz is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska.-Early life and ministry:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, at the Century II Convention Center
Century II Convention Hall
Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center is a performing arts and convention center located at 225 West Douglas Avenue in Wichita, Kansas, USA...
. He selected as his episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: Jesus Caritas, or "Love of Jesus", the name of the priestly fraternity, founded by the Blessed
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
Charles de Foucauld
Charles de Foucauld
Charles Eugène de Foucauld was a French Catholic religious and priest living among the Tuareg in the Sahara in Algeria. He was assassinated in 1916 outside the door of the fort he built for protection of the Tuareg and is considered by the Catholic Church to be a martyr...
, to which he has belonged since 1974. He succeeded Eugene Gerber as the seventh Bishop of Wichita
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita is a Roman Catholic diocese in Kansas. It was founded on August 2, 1887, and covers Allen, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Labette, Marion, McPherson, Montgomery, Morris, Neosho, Reno,...
upon Gerber's retirement on October 4, 2001.
Bishop of Phoenix
Olmsted was later named the fourth Bishop of PhoenixRoman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
-History:The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix in Arizona is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was established on December 2, 1969 when it was split off of the Diocese of Tucson...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, on November 25, 2003. Formally installed
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
on December 20 of that year, he replaced Bishop Thomas O'Brien
Thomas J. O'Brien (bishop)
Thomas Joseph O'Brien is a former American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Phoenix from 1982 to 2003.-Early life and ministry:...
, who resigned after being arrested for his involvement in a fatal hit-and-run car accident
Hit and run (vehicular)
Hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident , and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards...
.
- During the 2008 presidential electionUnited States presidential electionElections for President and Vice President of the United States are indirect elections in which voters cast ballots for a slate of electors of the U.S. Electoral College, who in turn directly elect the President and Vice President...
, Olmsted declared a candidate's position on abortionAbortionAbortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
to be the most important consideration for voters, stating, "When it comes to direct attacks on innocent human life, being right on all the other issues can never justify a wrong choice on this most serious matter."
- On February 12, 2006, Olmsted denied communion to a 10-year-old autistic boy. In a letter to the boy's family, Olmsted stated that the boy could not receive Communion until he could "actually receive the Eucharist, actually take and eat."
- In 2008, after the diocese had spent several million dollars to settle about 20 lawsuitsSexual abuse scandal in Phoenix dioceseThe sexual abuse scandal in Phoenix diocese is a significant episode in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States and Ireland-Grand jury investigation:...
, Olmsted led an initiative to shield the diocese from further sex abuse claims by incorporating local parishes individually.
- On September 12, 2008, Olmsted released a YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
video urging Arizona voters to vote for Proposition 102, a referendum to amend the Arizona constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
- From January 2008 to February 2009, he was Apostolic AdministratorApostolic AdministratorAn apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of GallupRoman Catholic Diocese of GallupThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern region of the United States, encompassing counties in the states of Arizona and New Mexico and and parts of Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Bernalillo, and Valencia Counties west...
, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, acting as that diocese's interim leader until the appointment of James S. WallJames S. WallJames Sean Wall is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Bishop of Gallup.-Early life and education:...
.
- On March 8, 2010, Olmsted, as Bishop of Phoenix, joined in signing a letter with two other bishops of Arizona in expressing concern over Arizona SB 1070 indicating that if passed it might will instill fear in those illegal immigrants who are victims of crime and deter them from going to the police out of fears of deportation.
- On March 10, 2009, Olmsted condemned PresidentPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for lifting former President George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's restrictionsStem cell research policyStem cell research policy, varies significantly throughout the world. There are overlapping jurisdictions of international organizations, nations, and states or provinces. Some government policies determine what is allowed versus prohibited, whereas others outline what research can be publicly...
on embryonic stem cell researchEmbryonic stem cellEmbryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, an early-stage embryo. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4–5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50–150 cells...
, saying, "American taxpayers will now be paying for the killing of human beings at a very early stage in their lives (as embryoEmbryoAn embryo is a multicellular diploid eukaryote in its earliest stage of development, from the time of first cell division until birth, hatching, or germination...
s), so that scientific research can make use of them for experiments that may or may not yield positive results." He also referred to stem cell research as "homicidalHomicideHomicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
research".
- In March 2009, the Bishop criticized the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
for selecting Obama as the commencement speaker for its graduation ceremony and awarding him an honorary doctoral degree, calling the choice a "grave mistake." Olmsted asserted that Notre Dame's actions went against a previous decision of the United States Conference of Catholic BishopsUnited States Conference of Catholic BishopsThe United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
in their June 2004 Statement “Catholics in Political Life”: "The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions."
- Under Olmsted's tutelage, the Diocese of Phoenix has researched and cataloged an index of its clergymen accused of sexually abusing children and now has released some of their identities to the public. The Diocese is putting out a list of sexually abusive clergymen on its newly revamped website. Joe Baca, the Phoenix director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by PriestsSurvivors Network of those Abused by PriestsThe Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, established in 1989, is the oldest and most active support group of survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their supporters in the United States...
stated: "It's the right thing to do and I've got to give them that much. They need to use these names to help victims to come forward. But you know, there's still more they can do."
Sister Margaret McBride excommunication controversy
In May 2010, Olmsted declared that Sister Margaret McBride who served on the ethics committee of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, was automatically excommunicated after permitting an abortionAbortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center is a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. It is currently operated by Catholic Healthcare West , one of the largest healthcare systems in the West with 40 hospitals in Arizona, California and Nevada. St...
. McBride allowed doctors to perform an abortion on a mother of four who was 11 weeks pregnant and suffering from pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension
In medicine, pulmonary hypertension is an increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, or pulmonary capillaries, together known as the lung vasculature, leading to shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, and other symptoms, all of which are exacerbated by exertion...
. Hospital doctors had estimated that the woman's chance of dying if she continued the pregnancy was "close to 100 percent".
McBride has been accused of permitting a "direct abortion," which according to the Catholic Church's position is always wrong. The Diocese of Phoenix
Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
-History:The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix in Arizona is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was established on December 2, 1969 when it was split off of the Diocese of Tucson...
stated that she was excommunicated because “she gave her consent that the abortion was a morally good and allowable act according to Church teaching" admitting this directly to Bishop Olmsted. "Since she gave her consent and encouraged an abortion she automatically excommunicated herself from the Church.”
As a result of the above case, and because hospital management would not refuse to perform similar abortions in the future, Olmsted announced on December 21, 2010, that the Diocese of Phoenix was severing its ties with St. Joseph's Hospital in mid-town Phoenix and that the facility could no longer be called "a Catholic hospital". Olmsted is attempting to work with the hospital to help them fulfill requirements of self-identified Catholic institutions. In order to return to full communion with the Catholic Church, McBride would need to admit and confess her sin to a priest through the Rite of Confession.
A poll taken in May, 2011, showed the majority of Catholics surveyed disagreed with Olmsted's decision and felt he had misused his power.