Milz: Kicked To The Curb!

I have never been a fan of SDACT cheerleader and big boss man Mikey Milz, and yesterday he received a well deserved smackdown. As Ralph Cramden would say "Oh, how sweet it is!"

A union leader laid off from his teaching job at a Catholic high school last summer during a battle over official recognition and collective bargaining powers was considered an "at-will employee" and cannot pursue a wrongful termination lawsuit against the Diocese of Scranton, Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. ruled Monday.

Michael Milz, president of the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers, sued the diocese and his former employer, Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre, claiming they targeted him for layoff in June 2008 because of his union activity.

Diocese spokesman Bill Genello said the diocese was "pleased with this decision." Genello rejected the claim that the layoff was a form of retribution.

"As was stated at the time of the teacher layoffs, neither Mr. Milz nor anyone else was fired," Genello said. "The layoffs were determined strictly according to the criteria used in previous years."

Those criteria included a teacher's seniority and level of certifications, Genello said.

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Death throes?

It must be sad to see yourself become obsolete.

So it is with SDACT and Michael Milz, it's president.

Pope Benedict has released a new encyclical titled “Caritas in Veritate”, translated means “Charity in truth”. His Holiness spends much time writing about things such as marriage and abortion, and touches briefly on, for whatever reason, labor unions.

Ever the straw grasper, Milz released a statement “It seems that no matter what the Holy Father or his brother bishops (who only last week gave a ringing endorsement of the rights of church employees) have to say about workers rights, Bishop Joseph Martino will not relent in his harsh opposition to grant these very same basic human rights to those who work for him,”

Ok, Milz. Life is a basic human right. Not a labor union. You guys have obviously lost the fight, move on. Choose something new you can oppose, like abortion maybe. Work with the Church instead of against it, and maybe you can have relevance again.

Hardy-har-har!

Well, it would seem that Bishop Martino does indeed have the authority to decide what sort of organization should represent the workers in the Catholic school system.

In a letter dated September24 from the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education the Bishop and Diocese received affirmation regarding their current policies regarding SDACT.

SDACT president Michael Milz, meanwhile downplayed the ruling, saying "It's Bishops judging Bishops. This is par for the course."

The SDACT radicals plan to appeal to the Apostolic Signatura. I doubt they'll have better luck there.

Let's not forget it was Milz and his patsies at the union that decided to take this to Rome. Now, when it does'nt go their way, they claim favoritism among the Bishops. The big, bad Church is picking on the little teachers. How very leftist of them.

I'll keep you informed how this plays out. In the meantime, I'll sit back and watch Milz and SDACT as they start a new campaign to intimidate, turn public opinion against the Church, and again act the victim in all this.

Should be fun.

"No" means "No".

The Diocese has said the decision concerning SDACT was final. They reiterated it in a statement issued yesterday. But the union officials, like impetuous children stomping their feet in the corner, continue to move their campaign forward to force their will on the Diocese .

Daily protests and a trip to New York City to demonstrate during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI are in the near future for Diocese of Scranton teachers.

After two weeks of planning and re-energizing, teachers are now pushing the campaign forward once again.

“This is not going away until there’s some kind of resolution,” union President Michael Milz said Thursday.

In January, the diocese announced it would not recognize the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers as a collective bargaining unit, and instead it has implemented an employee relations program. Since then, teachers have campaigned against the decision.

On Monday, supporters will hold a picket outside the chancery on Wyoming Avenue, Scranton. The rally, which will be from 3 to 5 p.m., is expected to draw a couple hundred people, Milz said.

The rally will be the start of daily picketing in front of the chancery, in which groups of people will demonstrate outside the building every day for an hour or so, Milz said.

During the pope’s visit to New York City on April 19, the union will have an “informational demonstration” outside St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers where he is scheduled to speak.

“We hope to at least wave to the pope and have him read our banner,” Milz said, adding that he hopes to fill 50 seats in a bus that a parent has donated for use on the trip.

The union’s campaign has already gotten the attention of the Vatican, as the Congregation for Catholic Education will soon review the case and issue a decision that could uphold or overrule Bishop Joseph F. Martino’s decision. Milz said he expects a preliminary decision within a month.

In addition, several labor unions are planning a “sizeable labor rally,” which may be held at a local stadium or arena, Milz said.

“We’re looking at this to be thousands of people coming to the area to march or campaign on our behalf,” Milz said, adding he would know more details later this month.

That rally could include the display of a giant inflatable rat, which labor unions have used in various demonstrations across the country.

Despite the demonstrations and events planned, the decision to not recognize the union will not change, the diocese said in a statement Thursday.

“The decision regarding recognition of SDACT is final and will not be revoked … SDACT’s continued opposition to the program is pointless and will not change the decision,” the statement read.

And the Vigilers vigiled. Sort of.

Well, I arrived at St. Peters Cathedral at around 4:30 this afternoon to check in on the folks from SDACT. I was happy to see that the vigilers were not loitering around outside the cathedral, but rather, were over at the prayer garden next to the rectory.

Propped up against the fence was a sign reading "Parents Supporting SDACT".

I strolled over to St. Peters, unsure if the vigil Mass began at 4 or 5. I pulled open the door and stepped inside. Father Connor was busy reading the Roman Canon, and a full house of worshippers knelt down in adoration of the Eucharistic Lord.

I walked back to the garden to take an official count of the vigilers. There were 12, probably not the support SDACT hoped for, but 12 is better than none, I suppose.

Now, in our prayer garden, there are brick posts with plaques containing the mysteries of the rosary. The SDACTers were praying an Ave Maria together as I approached. A few looked at me as I started shooting pictures.
SDACTers praying the rosary. Those Sorrowful Mysteries always crack me up too...

They prayed for awhile, then some fellow who seemed to be in charge started going on about how the Bishop doesn't talk to his own priests, because he has Vicors for that. He also mentioned his hope that "very soon the priests will step in to end this thing, enough is enough." He remarked how priests from some big diocese somewhere voted to remove their Bishop because he was a bad administrator or something to that effect. There was general merriment at the thought that the Bishop might somehow be thrown out of power, and by his own priests!


Then some of the people announced they were going, they were thanked for their support, and about 3 or 4 left.

The rest stood there, talking amongst themselves.

I got in my car and drove away at 5:02pm, 7 or 8 SDACTers left.

Now, I'm sure the majority of the SDACT Vigilers were yet to arrive, but what I saw wasn't too impressive.

Maybe there will more vigilers tomorrow, as Mass begins yet again at 6am or so, I believe. Another opportunity to be seen and to remind the faithful of the dreadful injustices the teachers must endure from our Bishop.

Another publicity stunt

I was all pleased with myself after Quizilla told me that I am as cool as Pope St. Pius X, when I came across this latest tidbit about everyone's favorite wanna be union, SDACT.

Ordinarily I would welcome this bit of news if I didn't think there are other motives involved here. I really doubt that the true purpose of this gathering is to pray for the intentions of the Bishop. It's designed for them to appear publicly, to keep themselves in the media's eye, and to portray themselves as devout catholics who gather to pray for the great oppressor of the SDACT, Bishop Martino.

From their blog:

This weekend, SDACT along with our parent and alumni support groups will be holding a prayer vigil for the intentions of Bishop Martino. The vigil will be held outside St. Peter's Cathedral on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. The vigil will begin at 4:00 PM, Saturday, March 29, and will run continuously for the next 20 hours, ending at 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 30. (You'll notice this vigil is set for peak times at the cathedral when the faithful are going to Holy Mass) Participants are encouraged to dress warmly, and to bring their own candle and a camp or lawn chair. We invite the general public to join us. The Diocese has offered to provide security and will allow participants to use the restroom facilities at Holy Cross High School which is located directly across the street from the Cathedral. We thank Diocesan officials for this kind gesture.

Yesterday I left a comment on SDACT's blog in opposition to the "sick out" held the other day at St Mary's and St Nicholas schools.

They didn't post it. They do post letters to the editor in support of SDACT however, meant to show the public support they have.

I urge you to write your own letters in support of the Bishop to local papers, and to the Bishop himself, and show him he has your support and prayers. He needs them.

I'll try to stop by their "prayer vigil" tomorrow and take some photos, and try to interview some poeple. I'll post what I can here.

Money is the root of all evil

So, the money crazed teachers of my diocese, mindlessly following the instructions of the SDACT heirarchy, in a futile attempt to have their silly union recognized have brought their case to the Vatican!

Good! Let the Vatican smack them down, and lets see what they say and dothen. Maybe they will split from the oppressive church that is keeping them down and start their own progressive quasi-church. One where they can vote on which doctrines please them, and where they can throw those pesky ones like sin and confession out in the garbage where they can keep company with the aborted babies.

My problem is that today the teachers over at St Mary and St Nicholas schools all called in sick. Why do they keep aggravating the situation? They are waiting for a hearing date, so just shut up, do their job, and wait. They must be aware that they will lose and are trying to force a concession.

Fear is in the air.

They wrongly assumed the Bishop would crack and give in to their demands.

I hope he fires the lot of them when the school year is done.

And there will be much rejoicing.