Press Release: Catholics Bishops Ban Fellow Bishop Advocate of Clergy Abuse Survivors

Press Contacts:

Nicole Sotelo, Call To Action Acting Co-Director

773.404.0004 x285 (office) 857.928.4112 (cell)

Mary Jayne Benton, Call To Action/Phoenix Leader, 480.970.4288

Laurie Olson, Call To Action/Tucson Leader, 520.615.0183

February 6, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CATHOLIC BISHOP BANNED BY ARIZONA BISHOPS FOR SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF
SEXUAL ABUSE

The Catholic Bishops of Tucson and Phoenix have requested that Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit not speak publicly within their diocesan boundaries. Gumbleton, who was scheduled to speak in Tucson and Phoenix this week, was recently sanctioned by the Vatican for supporting survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

“It is clear that five years after the first massive revelations of sexual abuse, the leadership of the Catholic Church is still unwilling to support the survivors of sexual abuse by priests,� says Nicole Sotelo, Acting Co-Director of Call To Action, a national Catholic justice organization whose local groups were sponsoring Gumbleton’s talks.

“Despite the Arizona bishops’ ban, this will not stop Bishop Gumbleton from sharing his message of healing and justice for survivors of sexual abuse, gays and other who are marginalized in our church. Our events will go on,� says Laurie Olson, a leader of CTA/Tucson and host of this week’s event.

The Phoenix event will still be held on Wednesday, February 7 at 7pm at Church of the Beatitudes located at 555 W. Glendale Ave. The Tucson event will also continue on Tuesday, February 6 at 7pm at First Christian Church located at 740 E. Speedway. The groups will share Bishop Gumbleton’s prophetic voice for justice via video. Both events are free.

“We Catholics in Phoenix are deeply disappointed in Bishop Olmsted. How could he dare to silence a fellow bishop who is speaking out in support of people who were sexually abused by priests and in support of the gospel value of justice?� says Mary Jayne Benton, a leader of CTA/Phoenix who is hosting the event in Phoenix. “Gratefully, Bishop Olmsted cannot silence our work for justice. The church is much larger than the bishops of Tucson and Phoenix and the good Catholics in our dioceses will continue our work for healing, peace and justice as the gospel has called us to do.�

“We find it confusing that Bishop Kicanas of Tucson has not objected to any past events held by Call To Action on church property, except for this event with Bishop Gumbleton,� says Sotelo. “Bishop Gumbleton is following in the footsteps of Jesus who went town by town proclaiming the good news of healing, justice and peace to those who were marginalized by religious and governmental leaders of the day. I am proud that Call To Action stands with Bishop Gumbleton and other Catholics who stand up for justice as Jesus did.�