The lies keep on coming

Today's Catholic Light, the Scranton Diocesan newspaper, is hot off the presses and, as usual, is full of its regular complement of lies and nonsense. First, you can almost hear Diocesan officials chortle over the fact that the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board rejected jurisdiction over the unfair labor practice complaint filed by SDACT President Mike Milz who was fired for his union activity, and that such a rejection somehow validates the Diocesan position.

The truth of course is that such a rejection was fully expected when Milz filed the claim. He said so repeatedly to the press when the story of the filing first broke.

The real significance of the rejection of Milz's claim by the PLRB underscores the issue of exactly what is at stake for the employees of religiously-affiliated schools. That is that there is no place where such employees who are deprived of their labor rights - rights continually supported by the mainstream Catholic Church - can now go for redress. Such injustice cries out for relief - legislative relief, by amending the PLRA to include the employees of Chruch-run schools.

It's been almost two weeks that the Diocese has refrained from lying about the nature of Milz's termination. One would have thought such lies ceased because a Diocesan administrator had come forward and admitted to the press and numerous other individuals that Milz was indeed targeted for dismissal for union activity. Moreover, he avowed that several other administrators, including the Superintendent of Schools, conspired to cover up that decision. Yet in today's Catholic Light the same lie is retold - Milz's termination "had nothing to do with his union activity."

We hope that those involved in that conspiracy, and who continue to support the Diocese's lies, have talked to their own personal attorneys who, we hope, have apprised them of the penalties for perjury. For at some point in the near future they will be forced to give testimony under oath in court.

In another story in today's Catholic Light, the Diocese touts that a new "contract" is almost ready for Diocesan teachers, and that such a document resulted from input from employee representatives who attended the meetings of the immoral company union established by Diocesan officials.

In reality, this two-page document should never in any way be confused with a real contract. It is nothing more than the standard document presented to all at-will employees. Such a document merely confirms that status with the undersiged employee agreeing to work under whatever conditions the employer dictates and will continue to hold that job only so long as the employer desires.