Recently, Bishop Joseph Bambera, who oversees the Scranton Diocese, posted a message on social media. He arbitrarily canceled the Pike County Democratic Committee’s rental contract with St. Patrick’s Church, Milford, for the use of the parish’s “Community Hall” for the committee’s annual dinner to be held that Friday.

There was no discussion of the reasons for this with the Democratic Committee prior to the release of his statement.  There was no recognition that the Pike County Democratic Committee has had a signed contract with St. Patrick’s for use of the hall since last June.  

To add insult to injury, Bambera implied the Pike County Democratic Committee was not forthcoming last June, when we applied to rent the hall.  “At the time the request was made, there was an incomplete understanding of the true nature and scope of the event,” Bambera claimed.  Nothing could be further from the truth, as the application and signed contract clearly states it is for the Pike County Democratic Committee’s annual dinner.

Bambera further stated that the Diocese of Scranton has a long-standing prohibition on parish buildings and facilities being used for partisan political activities, yet ignores the fact that the St. Patrick’s Community Hall has been rented for use by Republican party events previously.

If the Scranton Diocese chooses not to allow political events in their facilities, that may be their right.  But that does not mean they can pick and choose; if they allow Republican events, they must allow Democratic events.  And if they are choosing to change their policy, or starting to enforce a policy that had been disregarded previously, the time to do it is when they don’t already have a rental contract in place.

Furthermore, on at least two occasions, the Pike County Commissioners have awarded taxpayer-funded grants to St. Patrick’s Parish, including specifically for their “ St Patrick’s Parish Revitalized Community Center.”  This raises another question.  Does the diocese’s discrimination against Democratic party events compel them to return their taxpayer-funded grants?

This has caused logistical and financial hardship for the Pike County Democratic Committee, as we scramble to make last-minute alternate arrangements.  It has particularly distressed members of our committee who are also parishioners at St. Patrick’s.  It is blatantly discriminatory.  Religious organizations are granted much leeway in the law to accommodate a diversity of faith traditions.  But that leeway does not allow them to simply breach a contract they have signed for arbitrary reasons.

Lisa Miller

Chair, Pike County Democratic Committee

Milford, PA