April 23, 2005

The first Roman Catholic presence in Arizona dates to 1539, when Franciscan priest Marcos de Niza explored the Southwest in his quest for the mythical seven cities of gold.

The first Roman Catholic presence in Arizona dates to 1539, when Franciscan priest Marcos de Niza explored the Southwest in his quest for the mythical seven cities of gold.

Lawn Griffiths: Bishop Thomas Olmsted, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, is getting a letter early this week from a well-known former East Valley priest who is making a clean break from old Catholicism and has connected with Reformed Catholic traditions that recognizes female priests and open communion for all believers.

To all who are clamoring about not providing birth control because it’s against a particular religious belief, think about this: Let’s say a religion (i.e. Catholicism, Mormonism, etc..) believes that no one should be having sex out of wedlock. Let’s say that leaders of this religion decide that since any single people who contract a venereal disease obviously are having sex out of wedlock, they’re going to refuse to cover the treatment for VD contracted by single people. How many would be in favor of denying health care and/or antibiotics to people who might die without them? It’s the same argument that’s being made over birth control. Do we really want to decide who’s entitled to health care based on religion? It’s a slippery slope people.

So, a nun walks into a theater. No, really. It’s not a joke. Not yet. It’s Patti Hannon, star of the long-running “Late Nite Catechism” shows at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts. For the holiday season, though, she’s moved her wacky class in Catholicism to the nearby Theater 4301 for “Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold,” a staged classroom Christmas party with songs, a living Nativity and loads of laughs.

“To the Venter who thinks that Catholicism keeps its members in the dark about the tenets of the faith and that Catholics worship Mary and the saints as idols: Catholics only worship God alone, and they honor Mary and the saints.”

By coincidence, a potentially historic speech about women that received little media fanfare was made two weeks before America’s Episcopal Church elected Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as its leader, the first woman to head a branch of the international Anglican Communion.

By coincidence, a potentially historic speech about women that received little media fanfare was made two weeks before America’s Episcopal Church elected Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as its leader, the first woman to head a branch of the international Anglican Communion.

Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan greeted about 2,200 East Valley Catholics on Sunday at St. Timothy Catholic Community in Mesa, pledging no tolerance for sexual abuse and asking those unsettled by scandal to keep the faith.

NEW YORK - Pope Benedict XVI's U.S. visit left behind the impression of a compassionate and candid leader who has made a successful transition from professor to pope.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI confirmed Monday he would visit Britain this year, a trip that follows his move to welcome into the Roman Catholic Church groups of Anglicans upset over the ordination of gays and women.

Clothes make the man, they say. In Roman Catholicism, the clothes say something about God as well. A priest’s ceremonial garments, or vestments, are meant to convey a sense of gravity; they emphasize that Mass is special and solemn, and that worshippers are in the presence of the ultimate VIP.

Save a mother’s life or save the ideals of a church? Which is more important? According to Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, the church is superior. A hospital shouldn’t be punished for doing its job — saving lives — even if it goes against the doctrines of the church. Not all people who seek treatment at Catholic hospitals are of the Catholic faith; even employees need not be Catholic. Putting everyone under one umbrella is wrong. If one goes to a hospital to be treated, it’s expected the best care is provided, not substandard care because of moral guidelines. When is it moral to leave people to die when life-saving treatment could have been provided, all because some Bishop, not directly associated with the hospital, decrees it to be left untreated? Catholic Healthcare West (now Dignity Health) and St. Joseph’s have nicely received $100 million a year from the government. Taxpayers are paying hospitals to not perform their duties? Catholic hospitals provide 15 percent of hospital beds in America, and hospital mergers are increasing these numbers. The government is paying a fair share of costs for all these hospitals. The government shouldn’t be investing taxpayers’ money into institutions that refuse to provide the care people need.

“I read about the No Kid Hungry Pledge. Well my wife and I took it 20 years ago for our 3 grand kids. Knowing our ex son in law would be a dead beat dad, he now owes $230,000. Way to go CPS! They don’t do their job, so us taxpayers pick up the tab.”

“President Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize, mmm, mmm, mmm. Well, public school teachers can create a new song for Obama, mmm, mmm, mmm. Thank God for home schooling, mmm, mmm, mmm.”

LOS ANGELES - Martin Sheen became "fanatic" when his son Charlie was using drugs.

April 20, 2005

LOS ANGELES - The nation's Roman Catholic bishops signed off Thursday on a new English translation for the Mass that would change prayers ingrained in the memories of millions of American parishioners.

Pope John Paul II went straight to his 67-year-old knees that memorable Monday morning in 1987 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.