Martino’s actions demand complaints
The following letter to the editor of the Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice appeared on February 21, 2009:
Martino’s actions demand complaints
Editor:
I am not one who takes to writing letters, but I must confess that I am sick of reading about Joseph Martino, the Scranton-based dictator of the “Catholic faith.” I offset this in quotation marks because many of my friends who are Catholic (including those who have recently given it up) do not hold with his ideals. His decrees and seemingly daily epistles are bad enough, but to see papers such as The Citizens’ Voice providing him with a platform for his incessant ranting is a bit distressing. I understand that your publication is entitled The Citizens’ Voice, but it is not entitled “Catholic Light.” I think that the latter publication would be more closely aligned with Mr. Martino’s “news” items.
My true disgust occurred on the morning of Feb. 19, when I read about his latest threat to close St. Peter’s Cathedral if pro-choice officials were featured in the parade. I say close your cathedral; it’s less money you will take in collections, in essence, cutting off your nose to spite your face. As I understand it, the Catholic Church really can’t afford fewer donations right now.
As an Irish Episcopalian, I find horrible the idea that the planning committees of the St. Patrick’s Day parade would allow themselves to be intimidated by someone who is obviously attempting to thrust the region back into the middle ages. He goes on as if he were a father chastising children for spilling milk on the rug. If the Catholics of Northeastern Pennsylvania wish to tolerate this, fine for them. I just don’t think that the rest of the readership should be annoyed each morning by this man’s jejune tantrums.
As for the Catholics of Northeastern Pennsylvania, I have only this to say: this man has closed your schools, your churches, threatened to withhold communion if you don’t “think” like him and has even gone so far as to blemish the academic reputation of your colleges and universities by suggesting they censor scholarship (be careful, Misericordia, you may be teaching creationism, next). Don’t you all think it’s time you complained to someone? Jesus did say to turn the other cheek; I don’t recall his saying to stand there and get your teeth kicked in.
Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D.
Wilkes-Barre
Martino’s actions demand complaints
Editor:
I am not one who takes to writing letters, but I must confess that I am sick of reading about Joseph Martino, the Scranton-based dictator of the “Catholic faith.” I offset this in quotation marks because many of my friends who are Catholic (including those who have recently given it up) do not hold with his ideals. His decrees and seemingly daily epistles are bad enough, but to see papers such as The Citizens’ Voice providing him with a platform for his incessant ranting is a bit distressing. I understand that your publication is entitled The Citizens’ Voice, but it is not entitled “Catholic Light.” I think that the latter publication would be more closely aligned with Mr. Martino’s “news” items.
My true disgust occurred on the morning of Feb. 19, when I read about his latest threat to close St. Peter’s Cathedral if pro-choice officials were featured in the parade. I say close your cathedral; it’s less money you will take in collections, in essence, cutting off your nose to spite your face. As I understand it, the Catholic Church really can’t afford fewer donations right now.
As an Irish Episcopalian, I find horrible the idea that the planning committees of the St. Patrick’s Day parade would allow themselves to be intimidated by someone who is obviously attempting to thrust the region back into the middle ages. He goes on as if he were a father chastising children for spilling milk on the rug. If the Catholics of Northeastern Pennsylvania wish to tolerate this, fine for them. I just don’t think that the rest of the readership should be annoyed each morning by this man’s jejune tantrums.
As for the Catholics of Northeastern Pennsylvania, I have only this to say: this man has closed your schools, your churches, threatened to withhold communion if you don’t “think” like him and has even gone so far as to blemish the academic reputation of your colleges and universities by suggesting they censor scholarship (be careful, Misericordia, you may be teaching creationism, next). Don’t you all think it’s time you complained to someone? Jesus did say to turn the other cheek; I don’t recall his saying to stand there and get your teeth kicked in.
Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D.
Wilkes-Barre
posted by SDACT at
12:43 PM
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