Joseph Martino

Joseph Francis Martino was born on May 1, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Joseph F. Martino Sr. and his wife Eleanor Devlin. He has a sister, Eleanor. He studied at Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia and at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. He then attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he obtained his doctorate in ecclesiastical history and Licentiate of Sacred Theology.

Martino was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Bishop James Hickey on December 18, 1970, in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. After returning to Pennsylvania, Martino worked as an assistant pastor in Philadelphia (1971–1975, 1987), Penndel, Pennsylvania, (1975–1977), and Jenkintown, Pennsylvania (summers of 1977-1981). He taught at Bishop Shanahan High School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, from 1982 to 1984. Martino wrote the official document requesting the beatification of Katharine Drexel, a 19th century American nun.

From 1986 to 1992, Martino served as dean of formation in the Theology Division and assistant professor of Church History at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He was raised to the rank of an honorary prelate of his holiness in 1991. Martino served as director of the Archdiocesan Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs (1990–1993, 1997–2003) and for Renewal of Pastoral Life (1992–1997).

On January 24, 1996, Martino was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and titular bishop of Cellae in Mauretania by Pope John Paul II. He was consecrated on March 11, 1996, by Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, with Archbishop Francis B. Schulte and Bishop Edward Cullen serving as co-consecrators, at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.

Martino was named as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Scranton on July 5, 2003 by Pope John Paul II. He was installed on October 1, 2003 at St. Peter's Cathedral in Scranton. In January 2007, Martino decided to close Bishop O'Reilly, Seton Catholic, Bishop Hafey, Bishop Hoban, Bishop O'Hara and Bishop Hannan high schools, 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 of its 209 parishes.[1]

In 2008, Martino decertified the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers, which had functioned in the diocese for 30 years. He replaced it with a diocesan association of teachers. The head of the teachers union described this new organization as a "company union".[2]

When the presidents of four Catholics universities and colleges in the diocese asked to meet with Martino, he demanded to see syllabi of all their courses on religion, faith and morals. The presidents refused this request, stating that their professors owned the syllabi.[2]

Martino submitted a letter of resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Scranton to Pope Benedict XVI in June 2009, due to poor health. At that time, he was only 63, below the mandatory retirement age of 75 for bishops. Martino said that he was suffering from "insomnia and crippling physical fatigue."[3] He admitted that his stress derived from a “clear consensus among the clergy and the people of the diocese of Scranton regarding my pastoral initiatives or my method of governance.” According to a report in National Catholic Reporter, the apostolic nunicio to the United States had received numerous complaints about Martino's management style, lack of consultation with others and remoteness.[2]

Martino's resignation was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on August 31, 2009.[4][5] Monsignor Joseph C. Bambera was named on February 23, 2010 as Martino's replacement.

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."[6] This was particularly controversial since the Democratic vice presidential candidate, then Senator Joe Biden, is a native of Scranton. Martino confirmed that Biden would be refused communion should he tour the region.[7] In October 2008, Martino made an unexpected appearance at a Catholic political forum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, where he stated, "No USCCB document is relevant in this diocese ... There is one teacher in this diocese, and these points are not debatable."[8]

Following President Barack Obama's inauguration, Martino accused Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a Catholic who opposes abortion, of "cooperating with...evil" by supporting Obama's repeal of the Mexico City Policy. This policy, reinstated when George W. Bush became President, prohibited federal funding for foreign family planning aid groups who offer abortion services to women.[9] Martino declared that Casey's opposition to the Mexico City Policy "will mean the deaths of thousands of unborn children."[9] Casey contended that funding these groups would reduce the number of abortions by promoting contraception and other methods of avoiding unintended pregnancies. In response, Martino said, "I remind you that it is never permissible to use immoral means (e.g., artificial contraception) to achieve a good end."[9] Martino has explained his anti-abortion 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."[10]

On February 17, 2009, Martino expressed his "absolute disapproval" of Misericordia University inviting Keith Boykin, a best-selling author and LGBT rights advocate, to speak at its annual dinner as part of Black History Month.[11] Martino 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."[11] In response to Martino's comments, Misericordia 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."[11] Misercordia also noted that Boykin’s speech was not meant to be a forum for advocacy on a particular issue.

Also in February 2009, Martino condemned an upcoming production at Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, of the Eve Ensler play, The Vagina Monologues. The diocese threatened to fire two diocesan employees if they involved themselves in the production. A high school student was also threatened with expulsion from school 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 elected officials who supported abortion rights at their annual events.[12] 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.”[12]