Letters to the Editor

March 5, 2008

Bishop’s actions illustrate why Catholic teachers need union

I read the full-page letter/advertisement from Bishop Joseph Martino in a recent Times Leader edition, and I found it upsetting and insulting to my intelligence. Surely everyone realizes that classrooms are not the same as coal mines, but we also realize (except the church, apparently) that these teachers are facing the same inequities that were faced by those miners so many years ago such as being fired on a whim or having every aspect of their work controlled by their employer.

The bishop would like us to believe that all the teachers are after is more money and better benefits. However, it is common knowledge that Catholic school teachers are notoriously underpaid compared to their public school counterparts. They have devoted their lives to providing something they believed in – a good Catholic education. If this was truly about money, they wouldn’t be teaching in Catholic schools.

All the Diocese of Scranton teachers want is the right to unionize, and shame on the Catholic Church for not allowing it. As a Catholic, I wish I could say I was surprised by all of this but sadly, I was not. Unfortunately, this has become what we expect of the Catholic Church. Somewhere along the way the Catholic Church has forgotten to practice what it preaches.

The Diocese of Scranton’s actions six months ago, under the direction of Bishop Martino, clearly demonstrate the need for a union.

The bishop was closing schools and laying off teachers with no regard to seniority and without an ounce of compassion. With the Catholic Church as their boss, these teachers not only deserve a union, they desperately need one. I have not spoken with one person of any faith who does not agree with me on this issue. Good luck to all of you, and keep up the fight.

Katie Firmstone Honesdale

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