Arizona priest still complaining

A Catholic priest who took a leave of absence in January, citing health-related and "other" reasons, says in a letter to newspapers that Bishop Thomas Olmsted has turned his back on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Catholics.

"I refuse to serve as a priest in a church environment that is increasingly sending a false and destructive message that my LGBT brothers and sisters and I are little more than immature, defective sex addicts," said the Rev. Chris Carpenter, former pastor of Christ the King parish in Mesa.

This priest is one of nine priests in the Phoenix diocese who signed a "pro-homosexual statement" in 2003...

Some previous history was blogged:
here (Only one priest has obeyed Bishop Olmsted - so far...),

here (Five priests follow Bishop Olmsted's instruction & withdraw signatures),
here (Two more priests remove name from "Phoenix Declaration" list),

and here (Q & A on Bishop Olmsted's suspension of Fr. John Cunningham).

Carpenter said the bishop's position has resulted in the resignation of several other priests...Carpenter said the exodus from church ranks over the declaration and other issues has resulted in " a growing influx of foreign-born priests with little to no knowledge of the local language or culture." The result, he said, is that Catholics are leaving the church.

The faithful need good and holy priests who teach the truth, administer the Sacraments, and strive to save souls...

Bishop Olmsted is a good bishop whose is concerned with saving souls and there are surely many good priests assisting him. With God's grace and help they will be successful in this mission...