badams@leader.net
Posted on 05/28/2004 8:34:44 AM PDT by Born Conservative
PITTSTON - Parochial school parent Joseph Rogo has found it easier to e-mail the Vatican than the Diocese of Scranton regarding local school closures.The Vatican responded this week to Rogo's e-mail and included the mailing address for Pope John Paul II's personal secretary.
But Rogo and other parents accuse the Diocese of Scranton of blocking their e-mails to Bishop Joseph Martino.
Rogo had e-mailed the Vatican to complain that Martino closed two schools without warning and lied about the process.
The response from the Vatican Information Service advised Rogo to insist that the diocese explain its decision on closing St. John the Baptist in Pittston and St. Mary's in Avoca. "Please insist. No matter what they answer you. If you insist, they would at least tell you why is he doing this (I am sure he is not doing this just for fun), and you together could find alternatives."
Parents met with the bishop in late March after the announcement that the schools would close, but the bishop has stood by the decision to close the schools for financial reasons. Rogo said they want to meet with Martino again to discuss some alternatives to the closures.
The Vatican's e-mail directed Rogo to send complaints about the closures to Cardinal Giovanni Battista in Vatican City.
"I think they want it taken care of. I want it taken care of." said Rogo, of Pittston, who has two daughters who attend St. John's.
He isn't deterred by e-mail the diocese postmaster has returned to him and other parochial school parents within the past week. "Obviously we're being blocked. Now we just fax our stuff up."
Rogo said he was among the first parents to have his e-mail to Martino returned. Parents used the e-mail address that had been listed on the diocese Web site. "We've been using that address all along."
It could not be determined Thursday whether there is some other reason for e-mails being returned to senders. An e-mail was returned that was sent Thursday from the Times Leader to the bishop's e-mail address, which parents provided.
The parents' Web Site at www.leavenocatholicstudentbehind.com says the e-mails they sent to the diocese via the Web site were not great in number nor abusive.
Diocese spokeswoman Maria Orzel said she would not comment on anything related to the closures because the diocese is involved in litigation.
St. John's parents sued Martino and the diocese last month to seek an injunction to keep the Pittston school open for one more year. A hearing is scheduled June 7 in Luzerne County Court.
I've got to say, I'm having increasing problems wondering why so many Americans would honor a church that is so foreignly run.
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