Pocono News Section

Catholics Give Their Take on Martino's Leadership

Catholics Give Their Take on Martino's Leadership - Monday, August 31, 2009 at 5:50PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Aug 31, 2009 @ 05:50pm EST
LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Bishop Joseph Martino left a lot of unfinished business. The diocese is in the middle of a massive restructuring. One of the things Bishop Emeritus Martino may be remembered most for is closing dozens of schools and parishes. People throughout the 11-county diocese had a lot to say about the announcement.

Eyewitness News stopped by St. Mary’s Church Monday. That’s one parish that Bishop Martino selected to close. Its last mass is expected next summer.

Parishioners here and across Lackawanna County say Bishop Martino will be remembered for having a tough job to do, but doing it without ever backing down. As people filed into noon mass at St. Mary's in Eynon all thoughts were on the resignation of Bishop Joseph Martino.

Francis Kobrick of Eynon said, “It’s sad. What are you gonna do though? There's always changes taking place."

With the bishop citing insomnia and physical fatigue, people like Duane Sprovack of Peckville hope he recovers. “You can see in the last two years, it was really working on his system. He was tired all the time. It looked like he was tired. He was exhausted," he told Eyewitness News.

Many parishioners say Martino will most likely be remembered as a hard-liner - a man who made tough decisions. He closed dozens of schools and parishes. Jack Conniff of Eynon said, “He was between the devil and the deep blue seas. He didn't have much of a choice. I just think he had to do it."

Outside of St. Rose of Lima Church in Carbondale people had similar thoughts. Judy Leo of Carbondale said, “A lot of people think of him as being tough, but there's another side to him. He had to make a lot of tough decisions and I think a lot of folks weren't happy about that."

David Krantz of Carbondale said, “He had to do what he had to do. I mean, there are not enough priests."

As for Martino's legacy. Mary Lou Scoblick of Archbald said, “People will look back and say, at the time, he did what he needed to do."

Now in retirement many hope Bishop Martino continues to stay involved in the pro-life movement. The issue has brought him national attention. Jim Scoblick of Archbald said, “People respect him for that. He's respected all over the world for what he did and you have to admire a man who stands up for what he believes in."

At Monday's news conference Bishop Martino also asked for forgiveness from his critics, some who say he didn't do a good enough job. Other people we spoke with say he has that forgiveness.