Vox Populi

Below are comments made by local citizens in response to Diocesan spokesman Bill Genello's editorial concerning the looming passage of HB 26 in yesterday's Scranton Times Tribune.


Genello has been blasted before by the Times Tribune editorial staff for his "childish suggestions" about what motivates SDACT's continuing protest. In his latest screed, our teachers were chided for being "defiant." Shades of George III when hearing of the protests of his American "children" in the 1770's.

As SDACT President Mike Milz said in his remarks at this past weekend's rally, people "can always smell a phony." Bill "Roy Cohn" Genello and Joseph "McCarthy" Martino are slowly losing their grip on reality. The "Big Lie" isn't working.



Lower Luzerne Catholic wrote on Jan 25, 2009 8:30 AM:
" "Make no mistake about it, if HB 26 passes, it will mean the end of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Scranton..." Well, guess what: we have already witnessed the end of Catholic education in Hazleton with closure of schools like Bishop Hafey, and it wasn't HB 26 that did it - it was Martino. "Make no mistake about it," eliminating Catholic schools has been Martino's goal all along. Martino is what I would call a "self-fulfilling prophet" - he snivels and whines about the looming end of Catholic education, then at the same time does everything in his power to hasten that demise. He had his chance to head off HB 26, but instead chose to take an even harder line towards the union, knowing it would only hasten the bill's passage. And the bill WILL pass. Martino will have his scapegoat, and will say that it was Milz and the teachers who forced his hand. But the rest of us will know the truth, and will watch as His Arrogance, the Most Reviled "Bishop" Martino gleefully crows "I told you so" - and repeats his infamous quote "So now you see that I am a man of my word" as he smugly closes any remaining schools. "

mike wrote on Jan 25, 2009 11:47 AM:
" how dare this man who calls himself a bishop make this kind of threatening statement . what a deplorable man he is under the guise of being a shepherd of his flock . he has no right being called his excellency or most reverend . those terms do not fit the arrogance of the man "

Diocese Watcher wrote on Jan 25, 2009 11:51 AM:
" The union has been in effect until Martinos' arrival here, and the ONLY thing that has been the start of the elimination of catholic education is Martino himself. He started this whole mess, now let him live with it. "

John wrote on Jan 25, 2009 1:39 PM:
" Wow, who does Martino think he is? He has become an embarrassment to the entire Catholic community and he needs to go, now. I still cannot believe this man is still head of the diocese. He has alienated a lot church goers. No wonder why the diocese was in the red for 7 million last year. What will he do next? You cannot negotiate with this man. Bishop Martino, please resign, the diocese will be a lot better without you here. You have made a mockery out of this area and yourself. "