The Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix, has signed the Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience, which was released today. This document crafted by Christian religious leaders affirms the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception, upholds the dignity of marriage as being between one man and one woman, and supports the continuing struggle for religious liberty and rights of conscience. The Manhattan Declaration was released today in a nationwide effort to enlist the support of all Christians for these fundamental values on which the United States was founded. <more>
PHOENIX (November 19, 2009) This morning Xavier College Preparatory Senior, Paradise Valley resident, Jessica Tonn was just sitting in her homeroom, watching and listening to the video announcements about Xavier Volleyball winning state, when a special surprise announcement was made that she had been named one of 12 National Finalists for the prestigious 2009 Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. <read story>
XAVIER COLLEGE PREPARATORY WINS 5A-1 VOLLEYBALL STATE TITLE AND BECOMES FIRST SCHOOL IN HISTORY OF AIA INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS TO WIN ALL 5 FALL SPORT STATE FINALS
PHOENIX (November 19, 2009) No school in the 5A Division I conference -- boys or girls -- has ever won all 5 fall state championships in one season, but Xavier College Preparatory did it this fall. <read story>
DIOCESE OF PHOENIX TO HOLD MASS FOR HEALING
FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE BY CLERGY OR LAITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
PHOENIX (November 18, 2009) The Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix and the Office of Child & Youth Protection invite all who have been abused by clergy or laity of the Catholic Church, and all survivors of abuse, their families, friends, and the community to gather for a Mass of Healing and Reconciliation. The Mass will be celebrated at 5 p.m., on Saturday, November 21, at St. Mary Parish, 302 E. Spring St., Kingman. <read story>
CATHOLIC RADIO COMES TO ARIZONA
PHOENIX (November 12, 2009) - Immaculate Heart Radio announced today that the Federal Communications Commission has granted its application to purchase 5,000 watt KXAM AM 1310 from Embee Broadcasting, Inc. The station is licensed to Mesa and the signal reaches the greater Phoenix metropolitan area from that location. The new call letters will be KIHP – for Immaculate Heart (Radio) of Phoenix. <read story>
BISHOP DEDICATES SHRINE TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
By Lauren Murphy | November 12, 2009 | Jack Central
A shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe was blessed and dedicated at Calvary Cemetery to honor those who have had their grave markers destroyed due to past construction on Nov. 8.
The shrine also includes a cenotaph (a large granite marker) where the names of those with destroyed grave markers interred before 1959 can be inscribed at no cost to the family. Bishop Thomas Olmsted performed the dedication ceremony, which included several hymns and readings. <read story>
BISHOP CREATES NEW MEDICAL ETHICS BOARD
GROUP TO GIVE INPUT ON HEALTH CARE ISSUES, CATHOLIC TEACHING
By Joyce Coronel | Nov. 3, 2009 | The Catholic Sun
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted established a medical ethics board last month to advise clergy, health care providers and the faithful on health care issues in light of Catholic moral teaching.
The panel of seven physicians and a nurse will be led by Fr. John Ehrich, who in September was appointed by the bishop as director of Medical Ethics for the Phoenix Diocese. The Catholic Medical Ethics Board will soon begin quarterly meetings at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. <read story>
Ethics Site
UNITED STATES CATHOLIC BISHOPS CALL FOR PRO-LIFE AMENDMENTS
TO EXISTING HEALTH CARE REFORM LEGISLATION
PHOENIX (October 29, 2009) - The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) is calling all Catholics to contact their U.S. representatives and senators and urge them to fix the existing health care reform legislation being debated in Congress with pro-life amendments.
Special fliers and bulletin announcements have been sent by the USCCB to all Catholic parishes asking that parishioners contact their public officials to ensure that health care reform will be about saving lives not destroying them. The Catholic bishops of the United States strongly support genuine health care reform that protects the life and dignity of all, from the moment of conception until natural death. However, it is the belief of the Catholic bishops that all current bills are seriously deficient on abortion and conscience rights, and do not yet provide adequate access to health care for immigrants and the poor.
More information on where the U.S. Catholic bishops stand on health care reform can be found at www.usccb.org/healthcare.
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