Church won't pay into unemployment fund!!

[MBarrettMiller]

Seattle Archbishop Sartain says, “No!’ – Yet Again!

It was with profound disappointment that I read Archbishop Sartain’s final reply to my third letter begging him to consider “unemployment” insurance for his employees. ( See his letter on http://wealldeservebetter.blogspot.com/ )

In addition to the letters I wrote the Archbishop I have had numerous phone conversations with Archdiocese employees, written other officials in the Archdiocese and appeared on television requesting the Archbishop review this policy. A number of newspapers and national blogs have posted and printed articles on this plea for social justice for employees.

I wasn’t surprised by his stance, as he had responded in a similar fashion twice before dismissing all the arguments that were presented.

My final hope was that he would review the facts, and the human miseries created by such a policy, and at a minimum, consider a review of his present “no unemployment” coverage for employee’s policy.

That the Archbishop offered unemployment coverage to his employees in Illinois did not persuade him to consider the same to his employees in Washington.

In my request to the Archbishop I shared individual cases of people struggling with no income, trying to stay afloat, and how desperate they were without any safety net to shelter them. These poor souls are unable to continue their medical coverage, life insurance, and long-term disability without unemployment income.

The Archdiocese has refused to comment on these realities.

I shared with the Archbishop that there is an unemployment plan available to all employees of the Catholic Church across the country. I suggested the Seattle Archdiocese review the following as an alternative to the Washington state unemployment scheme if saving money was at the crux of their reluctance.

The program is called the “Church Unemployment Pay Program, Inc. ” administered by Larry Smith, (608-273-8300), who assured me that all dioceses across the country were invited to participate years ago, though few took advantage of the unique benefits as follows;

#1 Limited to 26 weeks of coverage. No extensions allowed. No cost to the employee.

#2 Employee may be let go for “religious reasons” which may not be allowable under a state program.

#3 Should an employee quit they do not receive any coverage.

#4 Offered to all employees working 20 or more hours a week.

#5 Maximum of 50% of weekly wages topping at $363.00 per week or a gross payout of $9,400.00.

In the Archbishops response he immediately pivots to financial justifications for his policy rather than honing in on the human suffering this policy is having on people who had dedicated themselves to serving the children, the church, the schools, and the community in Washington, and across America. He offers no concern, empathy, suggestions to ameliorate the plight he has fostered on the unsuspecting employees who had no idea they had no safety net beneath them.

Where is the concern for the heartache, financial damage, desperation that is nurtured when a person has nothing to shore up their financial situation? The Archbishop shows no concern for the people impacted by his callous decision to let money be the determinate on all things-

Where in the New Testament does it say to create a business and protect the system at all costs?

Poor Jesus must be crying over how these people have warped his teachings-

Over the last three years the Archdiocese has received various business plans, suggestions, paradigms offering solutions to the present business model that is unable to offer its worker the basics, allow schools to achieve excellence, discontinue slashing of salaries, hours of teachers and develop an atmosphere that is not driven by fear- All have been ignored-

Not once did the previous two bishops acknowledge any of the suggestions or show any courtesy to discuss anything other than the status quo that has clearly weakened the church, the schools and the community.

The Taoiseach, (Prime Minister) of Ireland, Enda Kenny, gave a speech this week to the Dáil on the Cloyne report, which unmasked the church for what it has allowed itself to become through conscious choices.

In his speech he tore away the Band-Aid the church has shown the public for so many years.

His statement about the Vatican is accurate to the way the Seattle Archdiocese functions.

He said,

“…And in doing so, the Cloyne Report excavates the dysfunction, disconnection, elitism…. the narcissism. …that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day…”

Archbishop Sartain-your employees deserve better!!

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[velo_nut]

So what are you saying?

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[MBarrettMiller]

That they need to create a business model that allows them to take financial responsibility to and for their employees…

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[2 Much Whine]

MBM, Why do you always use thousands of words to say something that you were better able to articulate in twenty? I have to admit that I never make it past your first sentence and then move on to something else. Might be my problem so don’t take it personally but I don’t turn to the blog for my novels. . . . we might have similar viewpoints but I’ll never know because I’m off chasing shiny objects before I get through your first paragraph.

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[JoB]

2 Much Whine…

stop following those bright shiny objects…

short attention span theatre brought us Bush Jr and that didn’t turn out so well:(

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[2 Much Whine]

Point taken JoB. Wouldn’t want to be connected with that goofball. Perhaps it’s the combination of subject matter and length. . . . .

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[MBarrettMiller]

Sometimes it takes a few more words, than some enjoy, to tell the story.

Feel asolutly free to skip anything I might post…..and whine away about whatever moves ‘ya

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[JoB]

2 much whine

i will admit that this is something we seldom think about.. which is.. i think.. the point.

who would stop to think about whether the employees in the Catholic School System are well paid or have the kinds of benefits the rest of us take for granted.

For a long time.. most of those employees were priests and nuns.. and although they weren’t well paid the benefits were pretty good.

Times have changed.

Perhaps the Catholic Diocese needs to reassess their policies..

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[MBarrettMiller]

JoB: You are absolutly right. The days when priests and nuns did all the work are long gone. To replace them there were decades worth of ladies willing to fulfill their “vocation”, essentially as volunteers. That got replaced with relatively low paid teachers, mainly women, who were bringing in a little “cab” money-

Today 76.5% of all the Catholic school teachers across the country are women. Most are at about 70% of the secular wages in their community.

For a long time wages and benefits have been a big hurdle- still a problem though in places bishops have done the right thing for their workers.

Impossible to unionize even when the bishops claim support of collective bargaining etc. That explanation would chase 2 MUCH WHINE to Youtube forever!

The entire paridigm has to change if they want to keep offering a private school product.

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[dhg]

I’ve just started reading Les Miserables, which starts with a character sketch of Bishop Welcome who gives away everything to the poor. It’s a striking story and it still works today. Those who choose to follow Christ should not have a problem with providing unemployment insurance. To say he can’t afford it is a very poor excuse.

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[singularname]

IF I were to spend a second to address anything related to the Catholic Church, particularly in regard to “what’s the right thing to do,” it would be to work to eliminate all religious organizations’ tax-exempt status.

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[kootchman]

How about…since the “church” is the second largest school district in the state….and saves the taxpayer about $330,000,000 in taxes….I will start a campaign immediately…to raise the tuition of all Catholic schools to cover unemployment insurance. Now, the state, in return, can issue every parent a check for $ 7,000. We can deduct the hour a week spent on religious instruction to keep that church/state firewall intact. So, about $ 6,500 should cover it. In return, the church would be required to offer unemployment insurance to any parochial school employee. Who could turn down such a good bargain? now that 300 million plus… is FAR LESS than the public school systems are reimbursed.. Of course the WEA would have a poopy fit. Catholic HS’s far outperform the public school system in graduation rates, completion of four year college degrees..and in large measure, Catholic schools perform in urban enviornments.. by every measure they add tremendous value to the state of Washington. Yep… c’mon WA taxpayers… ready to cough up 300 million? singularname…you couldn’t even come close to replacing the charitable giving of the church does..at the same cost of a public employee… a lot of those employees work for, and to, administer Catholic charities. Is my check in the mail yet? Can’t wait to hear the howls of protest if the church simply closed the parochial school system…and then had public education funds then make up the difference… as the state constitution would require…chilling thought to the taxpayers. It would end the unemployment controversy though wouldn’t it?

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[kootchman]

As to changing the paradigm…the retention of parochial teachers is very high… if they are good teachers. If not… well, tenure of incompetents is not part of the parochial school paradigm. We try to maintain a 90% base pay equivalency in Washington …. but, for the middle class parents who send these thousands upon thousands of students to school every morning.. supporting two school systems is tough.

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[singularname]

Dude … The Catholic Church is one of the most criminal institutions in the history of the world. Their “Charity Branch” doesn’t even begin to balance that out. And I have no doubt my charitable impact on humanity over my lifetime is more postive than any 10 random “Catholics.” And to be clear, I’m also positive, based on his website, that MBarretMiller’s contributions far exceed mine. My response to him was/is overly basic: There’s absolutely nothing surprising about their refusal–their choice–to be simply “decent” (much less “charitable”) to those who support the Church; there’s a much larger historical wrong that should be corrected.

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[GenHillOne]

I’m right there with you 2 Much Whine! Maybe “verbose” is the kind way to put it. *Where’s the remote?*

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[MBarrettMiller]

Koothman:

You are correct about retention in certain areas of the country. Sounds like you know the reasons people stay within the Catholic system. There is a lot of freedom in the classroom if the particular school promotes quality,challenging, non dogmatic education. A number of the stand alone independent Catholic schools do exactly that drawing in a wide cross section of the community. One standout independent school has about 40% Catholic students with about the same on the faculty. A number of Catholic schools have started to teach religion as a seperate course that non Catholics can skip.They have de-emphasized allowing a broader curriculum.

Schools that are underfunded by the dioceses, parents, parish are at risk primarily due to the actions of the priests and the incredible amount of money that has/is being spent to cover legal fees and settlements. The inability to subsidize has created financial problems that most priests have no expertise dealing with-so, they make immature decisions that make the problem ever more severe-

One arch conservative west Seattle school has just cut some salaries by 20% and reduced time in the classroom-should be no surprise that that school lost 50% of it’s full time faculty and 25% of it’s part time faculty. They will undoubtedly hire the cheapest most inexperienced…

Kids lose-teachers lose.

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[MBarrettMiller]

If anyone is interested in the trends in the Catholic school system nationwide look at the United States Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools 2009-2010- The Annual Statistical Report on Schools, Enrollment and Staffing. You will see the decline in enrollment, particularly in lower/middle schools.

Of the 154,316 teachers nation wide, 75.6% are women, 20.8% are men and 3.7% are clergy. Nationally the wage is about 70% of lay teachers with a smaller cap. We all the salaries would be different if men were 75.6% of the work force.

Dale McDonald, PBVM,PhD has overall responsibility for the report. She adds additional insight when spoken to-

National Association of Catholic School Teachers offers additional info.

Most teachers in the system do not receive unemployment coverage or any ability to finance continuation of benefits if they lose their job.

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[JoB]

kootch..

Private schools of any flavor are a choice.

i admit it’s a choice i would have made for my kids if i could have convinced my Catholic ex…

but, you choose, you pay.

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[kootchman]

MBM….you are running one very conservative faith bath school into the parochial, Catholic system. Holy Rosary, a West Seattle school has none of the issues you raise in the last paragraph. Just to be clear. Catechism is not optional in West Seattle, HR and Guadalupe or Holy Family, and never will be. It would make no sense for the parish, the arch diocese, to support the school as it does. Catholic HS are run differently. The tuition is much higher, in part because there is no parish affiliation, second, non-Catholic students are granted entry, and teachers may or may not be Catholic. However, there is religious instruction, with a wider view and comparative religious studies. I daresay a Catholic school teen has a greater understanding of the world’s major religions than one from the secular system. This is consistant with the teachings of the Vatican. There are no “stand alone’ Catholic schools. They are all part of the Arch Diocese of Washington. I fully expect a well educated, rational, thinking teen would question church dogma, an unquestioned faith is a shallow faith. I note you didn’t offer to come up with a share of the 300 million though. through a compensatory voucher system. Too bad…since I now support a Catholic High School, A Catholic Elementary School, and the Seattle Public School System too.

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[kootchman]

I knew full well the consequences of my choices..and comparing the two systems, I made the choice I felt was the better for my child. For many of the wonderful teachers and staff of the Catholic school system, they seem to feel the same. For themselves. What’s the grudge MBM? All private schools are reflecting declines in enrollment..sign of the economic times. Glad to your humanity and charity is so extensive…singlularname..every bit helps

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[JoB]

kootch

every dollar that leaves the public school system for the private school system impoverishes the public school system.

it’s that simple.

a private school system shouldn’t need public dollars to fund basic employee benefits.

you speak about the moral education that your kids are getting. where does the dioceses policies towards employees fit into that moral framework?

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[MBarrettMiller]

Koothman-I am enjoying this exchange.

In a number of schools the kids are not getting what they deserve. I am fine with any and all choices parents make as long as they make them in the best interests of the kids. Unlike you many parents just send their kids to a school hoping it all works out. In a number of schools, where we are involved, that is not the case. When problems at those schools are presented to the proper officials nothing has happened-for years nothing has happened. For instance, one of the schools you named has teacehrs teaching religion that have not adhered to the only “should/must’ in the Archdiocese handbook i.e. “…and hold or be working toward Archdiocesan catechetical certification…”

Not one person in the Archdiocese has responded to this, or other short comings-

There is a lot to be said for opportunities in the parish or indpenedent Cath schools. There are lower/middle undipendent schools that teach and present a great curriculum. Some schools do not ….if the teacher is able to present comparitive religious exposure, without a spin, the kids always learn more—

If there is any grudge/angst it would be to those schools and teachers that are promoting a continuation of narrow mindness, prejudice etc. I assure you it is going on-mainly in the schools that are the most financially at risk.

I don’t think the public should pitch in for private schools.

Every national study on “tuition as an inhibitor” to enrollement has shown that it is not- see the new NY school that is looking at 40,000 per year for lower/middle school…..

The only thing I care about is the kids I’m dealing with that have been given the short end of the stick. These kids-non English speaking etc. cannot meet the false expectations put in front of them by promoting and graduating them-it’s wrong and the Archdiocese needs to move on it—-our experience is they wont-

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[MBarrettMiller]

I gotta run spell check!!!! scheesch!!!

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[kootchman]

I neither petition nor solicit for government funding for Catholic schools. I petition with tongue in cheek. However, this does bear relevance. While SPS troops the flag of diversity… our very own HRS I believe teaches Spainish from at least the second grade…diversity has to be somewhat of a two way street…. and music…every year, and art… I think they become electives. SPS? The second thought, while others may rail, rant, rent their garments..catechism is foundation and justification of the school. For some it is a fundamental component of child rearing. The last and most important issue.. IMO… is not so tongue in cheek…the AME church sure got it’s hooks into the system…millions. Seattle, is one of the leading cities in the country who send proportionately more kids to private schools than public schools. I will assume Lakeside, Bush, etc… are as tuition restrictive as ever. Great schools, great cost. But here is the conundrum… as budgets get tighter, and tighter, the great largesse of the voters is diminishing. I know how much sacrifice some families make to afford a CS education. That also means they become less and less tolerant of more taxes..and when they see the torrents of lost cash, accounting irregularities, small business fraud, “insider deals” for property disposal..the less inclined they are to keep supporting school initiatives. I have said so before… parochial schools do not address special needs, ESL, etc… as well. On the other hand…they do a much better job graduating students who speak a second language, primarily Spainish. Here’s a simple fact.. they do graduate thousands of well educated students.. where the normative value is you better be on your way to college.. parochial schools are not in the 40K per year tuition range. That is not their demographic and you know that. Not to say that the competitive entry of HN, OD, Prep, Blanchet, or others does not attract those who could pay 40K..but in the main it is middle class kids that climb the stairs. It’s rhetorical question.. but I pose the question… add em all up, private religious, and secular, what would happen to the old state budget of all of sudden they had a 500 million dollar tab, and the billions it would cost to build all those new kiddie barns?… the “smart” WEA position would be… if we voucher the private school parents and index them to our own initiatives…we get more..they get more… but, back to the main topic..unemployment insurance….I for one am grateful that the Catholic schools attract teachers who prefer the work enviornment and the calling to the fringe benefits. IMO

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[kootchman]

BTY…I am not suggesting the state contribute a dime to the church…. I am suggesting they contribute to ME…as a taxpayer, who found an alternative to their offerings of a SPS education…which I find inferior, culturally adrift, and frankly too impulsive to address matters properly addressed at home. I have been to SPS meetings… as a taxpayer. Note when Cleveland imploded, the school system was taken over by the state…. who picked up some of the slack?

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