Martino accused of encyclical 'mockery' [CN-USA]

[Catholic Press]

The Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers is accusing Bishop Joseph Martino of making "a mockery" of Pope Benedict's new encyclical with his refusal to allow teachers to unionize.

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[quiet52]

Originally Posted by Catholic Press

The Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers is accusing Bishop Joseph Martino of making "a mockery" of Pope Benedict's new encyclical with his refusal to allow teachers to unionize.

More...

from the article:

The pope notes that "through the combination of social and economic change, trade union organizations experience greater difficulty in carrying out their task of representing the interests of workers."

Near the end of the encyclical he repeats the church's long-standing support of labor unions, but notes they "should be open to new perspectives that are emerging in the world of work," urging them to "turn their attention to those outside their membership."

The Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers posted a notice on its Web site lauding the pope's pronouncement and contending that Martino's refusal to allow teachers to unionize runs counter to the encyclical.

The pope does not teach that employers or institutions must allow their workers to be unionized. He is acknowledging how difficult it is for unions to represent workers' interests, and he is encouraging unions to not merely be focused on their own self-interests. That does not translate into "all employers must allow their workers to unionize."

The Pope does not wish to micro-manage. He is merely asking leaders at all levels to operate morally for the sake of the common good rather than profit alone.

I suspect the Pope's words will be twisted to promote the agenda of many, many self-interests in days to come.

[Writer]

Originally Posted by quiet52

from the article:



The pope does not teach that employers or institutions must allow their workers to be unionized. He is acknowledging how difficult it is for unions to represent workers' interests, and he is encouraging unions to not merely be focused on their own self-interests. That does not translate into "all employers must allow their workers to unionize."

The Pope does not wish to micro-manage. He is merely asking leaders at all levels to operate morally for the sake of the common good rather than profit alone.

I suspect the Pope's words will be twisted to promote the agenda of many, many self-interests in days to come.

Agreed. Sounds like there's a group of Catholic teachers who are trying to pull a fast one...

[pnewton]

No, the encyclical did not say what these teachers are claiming. Perhaps if their reading and comprehension skills are so lacking then they need such a union for self-preservation. I am more inclined to believe that this is just empty rhetoric symbolizing nothing.

The teacher may or may not have a valid grievance, but the Holy Father's letter is irrelevant.

[Huiou Theou]

I don't think the teachers are necessarily pulling a fast one.
(I am not a school teacher either).

Pope John paul II wrote on the people's right to collectively bargain in a few encyclicals. The principle he invoked is the common good -- I also seem to recall the word "subsidarity" being used in those encyclicals.

In this encyclical, I see the same word being used -- perhaps because Cardinal, Ratzinger aided PJPII in the crafting of his encyclicals....

With the teachers, I see two possibilities:

Their pay is adequate to live on and fulfill their family obligations (including rest) -- or not., ( Many will assume it is adequate -- but often teachers have to make sacrifices because of the incomplete earning year, etc.)

With the bishop -- I see one: He wants to micromanage & is afraid of the power of a Union.

There is, in my eyes, a clear difference between the ideology of encyclicals and the reality of power which is being played out here. Perhaps the bishop is justified in his fears -- as he does have the responsibility to maintain Catholic Education (schools) as many, many, recent and ancient encyclicals attest; but at the same time, he is setting an example that gives people who are inflicting injustice on un-unionized and exploited workers an excuse to continue in their ways.