SDACT CAMPAIGN: THIS WEEK'S GOAL - CONTINUE BUILDING COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Thank you to all the wonderful members of our Diocesan community who have supported the SDACT in its efforts to secure justice and dignity for our dedicated lay teachers. We believe that the past week saw support for that cause grow exponentially.

In particular, we must thank those who braved the cold to walk our informational picket lines in Scranton, Williamsport and Wilkes-Barre. Thank you too to those hundreds of good folks who have written letters to the Bishop and the Papal Nuncio, as well as to the many hundreds more who have signed our petition to the Holy Father. Finally, we must single out Father Pat Sullivan and applaud him for his courage and conviction in publishing his scholarly treatment of the current crisis in our Diocese.

Now, we hope that the week to come will see our support in the community continue to grow. Thus, our primary focus for the week ahead is to meet with as many parents and other supporters as possible to enlist them in our cause.

We have been informed that parent groups are forming in many areas of the Diocese in support of our campaign. One by one, they have asked us what their group can do to aid our cause. This week we will be reaching out to those many groups hopefully to develop a united front. Once unified, a larger organization might accomplish more than what could be done by several smaller groups.

Soon, there will be meetings open to the public at which SDACT will lay out all available information on our activities over the last thirty years. We're confident that when this is done, the public will understand why we believe the Bishop's decision to deny us the right to organize has been based on bad advice about our history. Moreover his characterization of our intentions should recognition of our union be granted is predicated on even worse advice.

Again, a million thanks to all in the community who support our efforts.


Below are links to the latest newspaper reports connected to SDACT's ongoing campaign:

Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice, March 2, 2008

Union quiet on next move

Scranton Times-Tribune, March 2, 2008

Catholic teachers union takes a break

Editorials and Letters, March 2, 2008

Diocese’s full-page ad on union suggests it may be time for court to revisit decision

Teachers rate support

An ill wind

Click on the following link to view an editorial in the Canadian publication, Tommorrow's Trust: A Review of Catholic Education, March 2, 2008: http://tomorrowstrust.ca/?p=1578