The LuLac Edition #587, Sept. 30th, 2008
PHOTO INDEX: BISHOP JOSEPH MARTINO AND OUR VOTE LOGO.
JOBS!!!!
The expanding economic crisis forced the jobless rate for residents of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area to 6.7 percent in August, the highest level in more than a decade.Unemployment surged 7 tenths of a percentage point in August, according to data released by the state Department of Labor.
Of the state’s 14 metro areas, only Johnstown had higher unemployment than Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The gap between area joblessness and the state and national averages widened in August, as well. Pennsylvania unemployment was 5.8 percent in August, while U.S. joblessness was 6.1 percent. This story gives us an indication whether voters will be acting in their own interests come November or voting on social issues. Social issues are all well and good if you have a place to go to everyday to work and if you can put food on the table. Jobs and the economy, given these stats have now taken center stage in this election year.
BISHOP JOE'S MISSIVE
If you attend Sunday Mass this weekend, you are going to hear some pretty strong words from Bishop Martino. Of course he won't be saying them himself, he'll be having letters read at all the Masses. And the words are pretty strong stuff, like "homicide" used toward pro choice candidates. The Bishop does state, "It is a tragic irony that ‘pro-choice’ candidates have come to support homicide — the gravest injustice a society can tolerate — in the name of ‘social justice." William Genello, the diocesan spokesman, said he would not characterize the letter as directly political. We'll have to judge for ourselves then.
ELECTION TOP 40
ABORTION #35
McCain: Pro life.
Obama: Pro Choice.
DEMS UP
According to the Times Leader, The Democratic Party’s registration edge over Republicans has widened to more than 1.1 million statewide. Those sorces come from the Pa. Department of State.
But the story is a bit different in Luzerne County, where a system wide purge has diminished the Democratic ranks by almost 12,000 and the GOP ranks by more than 15,000, county Director of Elections Leonard Piazza said. The Pennsylvania numbers have boosted the confidence of Barack Obama campaign workers. The last time a Republican carried the Keystone State was in 1988, when George H.W. Bush defeated Michael Dukakis.
In Luzerne County, there are 108,563 Democrats to 60,220 Republicans. In 2004, there were 120,420 Democrats and 75,529 Republicans. Again, a 2 to 1 margin in Luzerne County where the GOP is at a woeful disadvantage.
SEPTEMBER
The end of this month is rainy, and filled with political intrigue. Plus our jobless rate is too high and no one knows why Congress bailed on the bailout. Let's end the month with a song by Dinah Washington, "September In The Rain". Let's hope the storm clouds part and we see some sunny news the rest of the fall.
posted by David Yonki @ 5:50 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
So the Bishop wants to have a voice in politics? Whatever happened between seperation of church and state? I say, with all due respect, if the Bishop wants to play a role in politics as to how us Catholics should vote, then all churches of all religions should start paying taxes. This will lessen the burden of the taxpayers, and then the clergy can all wear their McCain/Palin stickers to mass!
The job rate is a direct reflection of how the GOP has ignored the working man. Case closed.
Is that pic of the bishop photoshopped? He looks remarkably like Rudy Giuliani.
During his brief tenure the bishop has demonstrated zero compassion, empathy or modesty. No concern whatsoever for the views and well being of his parishioners. It could be said that he is lacking in Christian values. This man is a "hatchet man" pure and simple and a classic example of a totally out of touch church leader who issues edicts and pronouncements based on his interpretation of doctrine. No wonder the catholic church has lost all but the most faithful in recent years. Its the only religion I know of that drives away its own people with arrogance and greed. Not what the Jesus I believe in had in mind. He failed to chase the money changers
out of the temple for all time. In the long run they completely took over. I wonder what he would think of this mans treatment of the teachers or the mass pedophile coverup and continued abuse allowed by other priests, bishops
and cardinals. I also wonder what he would think of the rings, ridiculous headgear and vestments worn by the princes of the church!
I think he'd say be a lot less arrogant, pompous and money crazed and spend some time and money feeding and assisting the poor, the sick and the real people of the kingdom not the biggest most influential contributors.
IN RESPONSE
Is that pic of the bishop photoshopped? He looks remarkably like Rudy Giuliani.
NOPE, NOT SEPERATED AT BIRTH EITHER. THE PICTURE COMES FROM THE DIOCESE WEBSITE.HAVEN'T LEARNED THAT SKILL (PHOTOSHOP)YET. YOU'LL KNOW I HAVE WHEN YOU SEE ABOUT A GAZLIION PICTURES OF ME AND GEENA DAVIS ON THE SITE.
Dave,
I remember in 2004, my priest warmongering quite a bit. There is an very independent report out there release last week that abortion has dramatically dropped in the last 30 years but still remained at a constant rate among the poor. Imagine that.
Abortion is legal. Until SCOTUS says otherwise, it remains legal. It's a constitutional right, meaning anyone who holds public office has taken an oath to uphold it as law. It is not going away.
Republicans full well know this, that's why their incessant anti-abortion whining is a win-win for them. They can take the position and never fight the fight. There is no fight.
Martino is a nasty, small-minded, mean, man who is widely despised.
I'd say that there's half a chance that the few Catholics who strictly adhere to Church dogma just might vote the opposite of what he might suggest.
Martino is the poster boy for Pro-Lifers; make sure a fetus goes full term, but don't much care what happens to that living, breathing, sentient human being once its born.
Personally, I don't think the RC heirarchy has any influence in this upcoming election. I, for one, am thrilled that they do not.
God save us all from the destruction of Vatican II by the hard right martinets within. They won. We lost. Sad.
The Bishop's recent comments have gotten some traction in the political blogs, so I suspect he feels empowered to keep going ... but the Catholic Conference of Bishops statement on voting is much broader and more nuanced --- and doesn't use the word "homicide" anywhere. It also speaks to many family economic matters as relevant in the election. Too bad the Bishop hasn't read it:
http://www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/bishopStatement.html#8
I agree with 10:14- Bishop Martino leaves a lot to be desired. Since the Pittston churches collasped into St John the Eval, donations have tanked bigtime. Of course, the present economy could have played a part, but Msgr Bendick is as hard a worker as they come, but I feel the Pittston area is still feeling the Bishop's backlash from the school closings. I was surprised by how well the Bishop's Annual Appeal went, considering his popularity. We will see after this new campaign.
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