Bishop Martino takes church back to the Dark Ages

The following letter to the editor of the Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice appeared on April 1, 2009:

Bishop Martino takes church back to the Dark Ages

Editor:

The situation concerning the Catholic school teachers of the Diocese of Scranton is reminiscent of the Dark Ages. Bishop Martino needs to keep an open mind. Refusing to negotiate is never the answer. This situation parallels what is taking place in a few of the local public school districts. Teachers in general should not be made scapegoats for the incompetence of others, due to the mismanagement of money.

The diocese is full of truly committed teachers who have devoted their lives to teaching. Any condemnation of these individuals for leading a just cause is farcical. They have given so much, for so little in return. The bishop is treating the people he calls his flock like dirt.

Hillary Clinton said to a crowd of 3,000 listeners in Scranton, “the teachers are the people in the trenches, they are the experts.” But the bishop is driving the people of his diocese backwards. To hell with diversity and open-mindedness, to hell with fair labor relations, and to hell with the schools and the churches; the legacy of their existence means nothing. The bishop cares nothing about the colors, the pride or the accomplishments that were built up over many years. The only colors he sees are black and white. Black and white thinking, along with preaching guilt and damnation have been driving people away from the church for years. Christ is supposed to represent love, peace and acceptance. These qualities define the Catholic school teachers in my experience.

It is time to give back to the people who have done so much for so many. The teachers of the Diocese of Scranton deserve a union, a substantial pay increase and a weighty apology. I wish them the best of everything, and thank them for a job extremely well done.

Joe Dombroski
Wyoming