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Pocono News Section
Catholics Respond To Diocesan Threat
Catholics Respond To Diocesan Threat - Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 2:48PM EST
Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Sunday, Jan 25, 2009 @ 02:48pm EST
LUZERNE COUNTY -- Catholic school teachers rallied for a teacher's union on Saturday, and the response from the Catholic Diocese of Scranton was grim. They threatened to close all Catholic schools in 11 counties in Northeast PA if the union came to fruition.
Bishop Joseph Martino wasn't available when we went to his home on Sunday, but a statement released Saturday by the Diocese of Scranton was still echoing. It threatened to close Catholic schools in the Diocese if House Bill 26 passes. That bill would force the Diocese to recognize a teacher's union.
"I can't imagine that our Catholic community would allow such a thing," said a mother of Catholic school students. "There would certainly be a lot of outcry about it, and I would hope the bishop wouldn't do something like that, because it's only hurting the children."
The Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers, or SDACT, held a rally Saturday to get support of the union and House Bill 26.
"We're still mourning the fact that Bishop Martino decided to break with the established teachings of the church, which say workers have a right to organize," said Michael Milz, President of SDACT.
"I think they have the right to form a union to protect themselves -- not because they're greedy and they want more, but because they want to protect what they do have now without being threatened," added the mother.
One year ago, the Diocese formed what it calls "The Employee Relations Program," which officials say gives school employees the means to provide input and address grievances. But Milz says House Bill 26 is needed.
"Right now, we're the only group of Americans who do not have any coverage under federal and state labor laws," Milz said. "There's a loophole that needs to be closed."
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