Joseph Martino

He was later named the ninth Bishop of Scranton on July 5, 2003, and was formally installed on the following October 1 at St. Peter's Cathedral.

In January 2007, Bishop Martino decided to close high schools. They included Bishop O'Reilly, Seton Catholic, Bishop Hafey, Bishop Hoban, Bishop O'Hara and Bishop Hannan, along with several grade schools. In total he closed about 30 schools.

In January 2009, Martino announced that, due to a priest shortage and diminishing financial resources, the Diocese of Scranton would either close or consolidate almost half its 209 parishes.[1]

He resigned from his office as Bishop of Scranton in early June 2009, due to poor health. He was suffering from "insomnia and crippling physical fatigue."[2] His resignation was accepted by the Pope on August 31, 2009.[3][4]

During the 2008 presidential election, Martino issued a pastoral letter that declared "public officials who are Catholic and who persist in public support for abortion...should not partake in or be admitted to the sacrament of Holy Communion."[5] This was particularly controversial since the Democratic vice presidential candidate, Sen. Joe Biden, is a native of Scranton; the Bishop confirmed that Biden would be refused Communion should he tour the region.[6]

In late October, he made an unexpected appearance at a Catholic political forum in Honesdale, where he stated, "No USCCB document is relevant in this diocese...There is one teacher in this diocese, and these points are not debatable."[7]

Following Obama's inauguration, Martino accused Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), a Catholic who opposes abortion, of "cooperating with...evil" by supporting Obama's repeal of the Mexico City Policy, which prohibited federal funding for foreign family planning aid groups who offer abortion services.[8] He declared that Casey's opposition to the Mexico City Policy "will mean the deaths of thousands of unborn children."[8] Casey contended that funding these groups would reduce the number of abortions by promoting contraception and other methods of avoiding unintended pregnancies, to which Martino said, "I remind you that it is never permissible to use immoral means (e.g., artificial contraception) to achieve a good end."[8]

Martino has explained his pro-life statements by saying, "I speak so forcefully about the right to life—the sanctity of life—from its beginning at conception to natural death, [so] that we not make ourselves God, the way Nazi Germany did."[9]

On February 17, 2009, Martino expressed his "absolute disapproval" of Misericordia University having Keith Boykin, a best-selling author and gay rights advocate, speak at its annual dinner and as part of Black History Month.[10] The Bishop described Boykin's views as "disturbingly opposed" and "antithetical" to Catholic teaching, and stated that "Misericordia University in this instance is seriously failing in maintaining its Catholic identity."[10]

In response to Martino's comments, Misericordia University insisted that it "is committed deeply to its Catholic mission. Inseparable from that mission is our identity as an academic institution where ideas and positions are explored critically and freely."[10] The university also noted that Boykin’s speech was not meant to be a forum for advocacy on a particular issue.

Earlier that month Martino condemned a production of the Eve Ensler play The Vagina Monologues and had the diocese threaten the jobs of two diocesan employees if they were involved in the show. A high school student at Diocese operated Holy Redeemer High School was also threatened with expulsion if she participated.

In late February 2009, Martino advised three local Irish American organizations that he would close St. Peter’s Cathedral during Saint Patrick's Day celebrations if the groups featured pro-choice elected officials at their annual events.[11] Martino, "determined to prevent a scandal," stated that such officials should not be "given parade positions or dais opportunities either to be recognized or to speak to the assembled participants," which would "honor pro-abortion officials" or make it appear that “the Catholic Church is seen to be involved in this honoring.”[11]