Bioethics Defense Fund honors bishop

By Joyce Coronel | Dec. 3, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

SCOTTSDALE — Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted received the “Witness for Life” award from the Bioethics Defense Fund Nov. 13.

The law and public policy organization presented the award during its third annual “Passion for Life” benefit held at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort.

“The bishop is a hero in every way,” Nikolas Nikas, president and general counsel of BDF, said in his introduction. “I remember when he came to the diocese in 2003, his first public act besides saying Mass was to go outside a Planned Parenthood abortion facility and pray.”

Nikas said that while people who love God try to do good in the world, in every age, the world has known saints. “You truly are a witness for life,” Nikas said, “You truly have lived a life of heroic virtue.”

Amidst enthusiastic applause, the bishop came forward to receive the award from Nikas and Dorinda Bordlee, executive director and senior counsel of BDF.

“I’m very honored by all of you to be here tonight,” Bishop Olmsted said, commending those gathered for their commitment to “Christ, the Church and the least among us.”

“It’s one thing to make your life conform to the truth,” Bishop Olmsted said. “But the one step that is most difficult and important is to defend the truth.”

In his remarks to the group and in honor of the Year for Priests, Bishop Olmsted focused on four priests who have inspired him.

Msgr. Liam Maher influenced the bishop’s life early on by telling him, “If you walk on water, people will criticize you because your socks don’t match.”

“If we worry about what others will say, we won’t have the courage to defend the truth,” Bishop Olmsted said.

He also mentioned Bishop Glennon Flavin, the first American bishop to write a pastoral letter that firmly defended Humanae Vitae.

Bishop Flavin once said, “If Jesus can use an ass to enter Jerusalem, then He can use the likes of you and me.”

“In other words,” Bishop Olmsted said, “there’s no excuse for not defending the truth... when we defend the weak, we defend the ones God uses.”

The work of Archbishop Raymond Burke, a seminary classmate of Bishop Olmsted, was highlighted for explaining why Catholics need to defend the truth and the importance of avoiding scandal.

“Our Lord was unequivocal in His condemnation of those who would confuse or lead others into sin by their actions,” Bishop Olmsted said. He quoted the words of Jesus that “temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to him by whom they come.”

Archbishop Burke has taught that the avoidance of scandal is “a primary responsibility with the gravest of consequences.” This leading others astray or into confusion by one’s action or inaction was vehemently condemned by our Lord, Bishop Olmsted said.

Catholics in public life who persistently violate the moral law regarding the inviolability of innocent human life or the integrity of the marital union have lead many into confusion and error, he quoted Archbishop Burke as saying.

Bishop Olmsted said the life of John Paul II had greatly influenced him as well. The late pontiff, who had endured the terrors of Nazism as well as the deaths of his entire family by age 19, often told others: “Be not afraid.”

Bishop Olmsted quoted a friend of the late pontiff, Polish Cardinal Wyszynski, as saying that “lack of courage in a bishop is the beginning of disaster... witnessing truth is essential to an apostle.”