Moreover, other Roman Catholic prelates have been unafraid to take a personal stand, such as L.A. Cardinal Roger Mahony, who has been a fierce advocate on behalf of migrants, and Rhode Island Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, who has demanded a "timeout" for ICE raids in his backyard.
"People ask 'What would Jesus do?'" Tobin told the Catholic News Service. "I know for sure what Jesus would not do. Jesus would not sweep into a community, gather up a large number of people, disrupt families, and create anxiety. In my own mind, I know Jesus would not do that."
Sure, The Bird gives Olmsted credit for opposing some evil anti-immigrant legislation in the past. But his current position is too feeble and impotent for a callous opportunist like our crusty top cop. Could it be the cowardly clergyman's fearful of pissing off rich, white, bigoted Catholics who fork over big bucks in offerings to the diocese?
Whatever the reason, the bishop ain't following the Gospel he preaches. As mentioned above, the carpenter's son said the good shepherd puts himself on the line for his sheep. By contrast, that makes the bishop a baaaaad shepherd.
GUADALUPE MELTDOWN
Know what this wrathful warbler hates most about Zona politics? Being right.
In column after column about the mess caused by Sheriff Arpaio's Guadalupe sweep earlier this year, The Bird warned that the petty politics of some in that mile-square town would end by handing Joe a victory. Even a New Times cover story on the MCSO's Guadalupe police action ("Brown Out," May 29) predicted that a recall then under way would result in a new mayor and the placating of Joe's ravenous ego.
The recall was not of then-Mayor Rebecca Jimenez, who courageously confronted Joe on the night of April 3, when 80 sheriff's deputies flooded the town and pulled over countless cars for broken tail lights and cracked windshields in an effort to ferret out as many undocumented as possible.
Rather, the recall targeted the mayor's cousin Patty Jimenez, part of Herroner's 4-3 majority on the Town Council at the time. Ultimately, the group behind the recall — led by longtime Guadalupe activist Socorro Bernasconi, and supported by her husband, Santino, deacon of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church — was gunning for Mayor Jimenez.
Everyone in town who was paying attention knew that as soon as Patty Jimenez was successfully recalled by the Bernasconis' political machine, their candidate for her seat, Joe Sanchez, would replace her, and a vote would be taken to demote Rebecca Jimenez from mayor to council member. (Guadalupe's mayor is elected from the council by the council.) All this happened not long after the recall election resulted in a handy victory by Sanchez.
Santino Bernasconi helps lead a Public Safety Committee that was interested in removing the MCSO as the law enforcement of the town before Arpaio did his sweep in the sleepy burg. There had long been problems with deputies entering homes without warrants, long response times to 911 calls, and the insensitivity of MCSO gendarmes to the customs of the Yaqui Tribe, which makes up nearly half the town. (The rest of the population is of Mexican descent.)
In fact, as The Bird was covering the sweep that night, he crossed paths with Socorro Bernasconi. She very memorably stated that the sheriff "can kiss that contract goodbye," referring to the MCSO's $1.2 million contract for police protection. The statement was recorded by Dennis Gilman, part of an effort by the activist group Copwatch to monitor and record all stops of residents by MCSO personnel.
Later that eve, Mayor Jimenez calmly walked up to Arpaio at his command station in the parking lot of a Family Dollar store, presenting him with a press release that asked him to cease his sweep in the town. Arpaio exploded in a childish fit, promising Jimenez that the MCSO would be back the next day in full force, taunting her with the prospect of a canceled police contract.
"If you don't like the way I operate," Arpaio fumed, "you go get your own police department. You've got 90 days to cancel your contract — 90 days! You wanna cancel it, feel free to."
Jimenez told the loony lawman that the town would look into it, and walked away. Her patient defiance of Arpaio can still be witnessed in the online video archives of KPNX Channel 12's Web site. The next day, the sweep resumed, but without Joe's mobile command post.
On April 18, Arpaio formalized his threat with a letter to Jimenez giving her notice of a 180-day termination of the contract. Really, Arpaio didn't have the authority to end the contract. He needed the agreement of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which was also a party to the agreement.
Last week, the Supes finally voted 3-1 to end the contract, with the one "no" vote cast by Democrat and Joe critic Mary Rose Wilcox. But that was not before Guadalupe's new mayor, Frankie Montiel, groveled before the board, basically telling members he was willing to bend over frontward for whatever the sheriff had in store for his little town.
The whole system is complicit in the crimes against the victims even the ones that were supposed to protect the children the most allowed atraucities to happen. The Cornwall boys Gary & David Ostler are guilty of these crimes. David Ostler is now in Sun C/ity West,Az.
Dear Father Robb while you are at ASU get a red dress from one of the gays and send it to the Bishop. Don't due the bishop's dirty work at ASU because even gay people need a funeral from the church. Amen PAULINE
Oh no! There is some guy flacking for a Phoenix Bishop who has my name! What will my atheists friends think when they read about this?! Could the guy please change his name to something like Brother Francis? Thanks.
Jim DwyerThe Bisbee ObserverBisbee, AZ
The video Olmstead showed in Church was disgusting. How many other Catholics in the Phoenix diocese were disgusted by that. Prop 102 is a political stunt to get the conservative base out in Arizona. Olmstead bought into this stunt for "moral", "save marriage" purposes. What nonsense. Is he going to play a McCain Palin video next week during Mass? I wish the hierarchy was as concerned about the mistreatment of migrants, war, genocide, injustice, as they are gays and reproductive choice.
The "Astute But Sometimes Asinine Avian" correctly and sadly notes, "Potentially, that's 60 families decimated." Very true, so why don't you file an "employer sponsor" I 140 or other application with USCIS on behalf of an aggrieved illegal family member to assist in preserving a family?
Too cheap, Bird and Lacey, to pay the $475 filing fee? Those porno advertisers pay you enough to help some illegals. Unbelievable.
Bird, you've also lost your latest attempt to perpetuate the "racial profiling" scam in the Guadalupe case. Case dismissed, as the Melendres case will be, follwed by "The Class" countersuing to destroy Phoenix and put Goober, Harris, and others in federal prison.
You've alienated the admittedly imperfect and vindictive Arpaio, who retaliated by taking MCSO protection away from the kids in Guadalupe. Happy, Bird Man?
Stephen, you're a good man with a decent heart, so please try to see the light here. Obviously this terrible situation needs a middle ground, not repeated attacks and counterattacks.
John "Johnny On The Spot" O'Sullivanfor "The Global Equity"
"otherwise law-abiding folk who lack the necessary papers." What?! They lack the "necessary papers" because knowingly crossing a border subversively is breaking U.S. federal law. Whether it is by omission or commission, it is still breaking the law. The papers bit is a nice spin, dillweed.
I am a Catholic that is appalled by Olmsted's insertion of his political agenda into our weekly masses. My church recently played a video of his encouraging us to vote no on prop 102. But would he ever make a video encouraging us to vote against the death penalty or in favor of ceasing ICE raids on employers? I doubt it. Even those these last 2 ARE supported by the Catholic church, they are not supported by the Republican agenda.
I encourage Olmsted to re-examine his conscience. It is clear to many Catholic parishioners that he is confusing Catholic ideals with Republican ideals. They are NOT one and the same.
I have this picture in my head of Jesus coming into my church and violently flipping tables over, if He were here...
Of course the Catholic Bishop is going to want the illegals here... he needs more non-English speaking kids for his priests to rape.
Do you see the irony in your statement about Joe being a waste of life and Hitler? You are claiming that Joe is a waste of life and therefore useless, and then you compare him to Hitler, who was the largest death distributor to people who he thought were a waste of life.
Arpaio, what a waste of human life...but he does gives us a great example of what it would be like to live under Adolf Hitler rules.
I guess Frank Montiel, thinks that he is speaking for ALL the people of his town. One would beg to differ, after all, there was a great many protesters from Guadalupe, when Bozo Joe, was there rounding up all them "Guilty Brown-Skinners". Yes, according to the Sheriff,they committed the horrible crime, of "Being Brown-Skinned"!!
Now correct me if I'm wrong?? I believe even, 'ol hypocrite Montiel was there that day?? He is..., just as guilty of that "horrible" crime. So he wound up as the towns, Sellout, and Ass Kisser to None other than the Buffoon, who thinks Being Brown is a crime!! It would be easy to find out. Just ask Rock Star- Rebbecca Jimenez.
Whats the deal, with the bishop NOT taking a stance. As a Catholic myself, I would, hope he would have the church and its many followers speaking out AGAINST the Mean, Senile, 'ol Mr Magoo Sheriff. Maybe then, he'll "SEE" the error of his ways. Then they could just drop the "Mr Magoo", portion and just call him a Civil Rights Violating, Tax Fleecing, Corrupt, Senile, Mean 'ol Sheriff.
Ha!!!
Really though, I would hope this article will prompt followers, to inquire as to why this Bishop has NOT, as of yet, taken a more rigid stance against him. (Bozo Joe)
Thanks, New Times, for shedding light to this. (Especially on that Butt Kisser Frank Montiel)
Regards,TRUTH08
In this case (but certainly NOT always), I agree SOMEWHAT with Arpaio. Federal Law must be enforced. Now, of course, New Times focuses on targetted stops and raids, some of which could be illegal.
There's another aspect here and I trust that the Astute Avian will see it. Enforcement or implementation of federal law also includes filing papers with USCIS, as our sourpuss Internet E-mailers rudely told New Times' reporters. Apologies for their nastiness, seriously.
But they made their point and provided documentation of a current case where they paid the filing fee for an illegal that they're sponsoring. I was sent forwarded copies of theE-mails.
These filings effectively "enforce" federal immigration laws, but not with raids on businesses and arbitrary stops. They also help undocumented people get visas, which lead to citizenship.
So, Bird, it's fine to criticize Arpaio, but also do your part to get an tllegal a visa. You have the intelligence and resources to do that. Maybe you can suggest this to Reza and the priest also.
John "Johnny On The Spot" O'Sullivanfor "The Global Equity"
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