Supporters who gather outside cathedral and bishop’s residence urge diocese to accept union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.timesleader.com/news/20080131_31union_rally_mg_ART.html

By Mark Guydish [e-mail]
Education Reporter

SCRANTON – Hundreds of students, teachers and representatives from labor unions stood outside St. Peter’s Cathedral and Bishop Joseph Martino’s neighboring residence Wednesday night urging a reversal of the decision to reject unionization of local Catholic school teachers.

Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers President Michael Milz stood in the flatbed of a red pickup truck and spoke to the throng, many holding candles or signs with slogans including, “Practice what you preach or we won’t teach.”

PHOTOS: http://www.timesleader.com/news/15058731.html


Milz recounted the strong support the Catholic Church and the local diocese have shown for unionized labor in the past, holding up a picture of former Bishop Michal Hoban, President Theodore Roosevelt and United Mine Workers President John Mitchell together on the steps of Holy Savior Church in Wilkes-Barre during the miners’ struggle for better wages and working conditions.

“Bishop Hoban was not there for window dressing,” Milz said. “It was an acknowledgment that the Church in Scranton had supported the cause of the miners. And the cause for which they were fighting was nothing less than human dignity.”

Milz noted Mitchell was not born Catholic but converted after the church backed the union cause, ultimately being buried in the nearby St. Peter’s Cathedral cemetery.

“I’m sure the lights on his grave are shining just a little brighter tonight because we are here.”

FULL story at link.