Pocono News Section

Vatican Rejects Union Efforts

Vatican Rejects Union Efforts - Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 6:08PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 @ 06:08pm EST

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- The Diocese of Scranton released a statement indicating the Vatican declined a petition by the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers and its fight for union recognition. The statement reads the Bishop did not violate any Canon law, as was suggested by leaders of the association of teachers. It went on to read "that the Bishop, especially in view of the restructuring of the Catholic schools in the diocese, was within his rights to alter the diocesan policy manual pertaining to Catholic schools."

Teachers have unilaterally petitioned state lawmakers to take up their cause and pass a law mandating unions be part of the landscape in Catholic schools. That bill remains in the Pa. House of Representatives.