Scranton Catholic teachers backed in dispute

The following article appeared in the Scranton Times Tribune, July 8, 2008:

Scranton Catholic teachers backed in dispute

More than 150 Catholic workers’ rights and social justice scholars are now showing support for the teachers union the Diocese of Scranton refuses to recognize.

The Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice, an organization of more than 150 scholars engaged in research, teaching and publication on Catholic social teaching, issued a release Monday calling for the diocese to recognize the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers as a collective bargaining unit.

“There’s a violation of Catholic teaching here,” Joseph Fahey, Ph.D., a professor of religious studies at Manhattan College and the organization’s chairman, said Monday. “We thought this was pretty much an open-and-shut case.

”Dr. Fahey studied all aspects of the conflict between the diocese and the union, visited the region and then wrote a report that he circulated to the organization’s members.

Members of the organization’s steering committee include scholars from Harvard Law School, Georgetown University, Catholic University of America and the University of Notre Dame. King’s College professor the Rev. Patrick J. Sullivan, C.S.C., Ph.D., who wrote a letter to news outlets this year criticizing Bishop Joseph F. Martino and the diocese, is also a member of the group.

The organization, which formed about five months ago and has grown rapidly, decided to endorse the teachers.

“Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice calls upon the Diocese of Scranton to end its campaign against the diocesan teachers’ right to free association,” the statement read.

Michael Milz, the president of the teachers union, said the statement represents the support the union has received from countless individuals, including religious scholars.

“I think it’s terrific,” Mr. Milz said. “It comes from some pretty heavy hitters.”

In January, the diocese announced it would not recognize the union and has instead implemented an employee relations program that focuses on issues such as wages, benefits, working conditions and the grievance process.

In a statement issued Monday, the diocese stated it “respects the right of individuals or groups to express their opinions.”

“In turn, the diocese asks those individuals and groups to respect the fact that a bishop is responsible for the apostolate of Catholic education in his diocese, and he has the right to manage the personnel practices in his diocese as he sees fit to best fulfill that apostolate.”

The diocese’s statement also noted there is no “campaign” by the diocese “against teachers’ rights,” which was suggested in the organization’s statement.