Scranton Diocese Overlooks Best Resource to Address Catholic School Situation

The following letter to the editor of the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader appeared November 16, 2008:

Scranton Diocese Overlooks Best Resource to Address Catholic School Situation

It has been a difficult journey for me in faith to observe how the Scranton Diocese has chosen to deal with parish and school communities. Yes, downsizing is happening all over in Catholic schools and parish communities, but not in the way and the speed it has been done here.

This year, when an opportunity presented itself for the diocese to work with its people – the most dedicated employees of their schools, their teachers – the diocese chose not to do so.
We believed then the promises that closing four Catholic high schools in the largest county in the diocese (with 1,425 students enrolled among them) to create a new school, Holy Redeemer, would at least provide more opportunities and resources.

Yet, we find that the diocese has increased class sizes and laid off teachers.

I am glad that we live in Kingston and close enough to Holy Redeemer that my children can still receive a Catholic high school education, and the blend of teachers is truly wonderful. But I don’t believe these teachers can speak openly and honestly for themselves when the diocese would not even permit them to organize and have a vote to show whether or not the majority of teachers wanted the union to continue representing them. They do have to worry about their jobs.

The diocese’s unwillingness to talk with the teachers union and negotiate – or to use a liaison such as Father Sullivan at King’s College, who is an expert on the Catholic church and workers’ rights – concerns me.

Instead of dialogue, the diocese just published the decision not to recognize the existing 30-year teachers union in the diocesan newspaper. The diocese also used this newspaper to announce it had chosen for the teachers the employee relations program. The way this was handled also sent a message to the community.

Couldn’t the efforts have been better spent by the diocese on meetings and verbal communication with the teachers and with the bishop? Why couldn’t stronger marketing campaigns be put forward for the Catholic schools? The very people the diocese chooses not to work with as a group, their teachers, their best resource, could be their greatest support and also the best sales pitch for their school system.

I was able to attend part of the hearing for state HB 2626. I was able to read through the written copies of testimonies that were provided to any who attended. I feel it is a sad day here for Catholic education.

I am still praying that some of what Pope Benedict’s visit was about – honoring and valuing our youth opinions and dialogue with the church community – can still happen.

If a Pennsylvania law has to be put in place for this to happen, I truly hope it comes to pass.

Mary Theroux
Kingston