Father Listecki Enters State Budget Fight

A letter from Archbishop Jerome Listecki about the Wisconsin budget fight between the Wisconsin State Government and State Unions.


From JSOnline


Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki on Wednesday described Gov. Scott Walker's efforts to limit the rights of public employee unions as "union busting," and in a statement he said there is a "moral obligation each of us has to respect the legitimate rights of workers.”

Listecki, who was installed as archbishop on Jan. 4, 2010, said in a letter to the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee that, "this much needed call for cooperation and communication between workers and management comes as opposition to Gov. Walker’s union busting budget continues to grow."



If I could convey my thoughts to the good Bishop, maybe I would say this. 


Dear Father Listecki;


This is Wisconsin and not Poland and the union in Wisconsin is not the same as the one with Lech Walesa in the 1980's under communist rule. I wonder why you would even get involved with this issue. In Wisconsin no one was tortured, no one has so far lost their job and no one is under bondage from the government of Wisconsin. 


Why would you stand up for some and I stress some and not all people who advocate and contribute to ending the most innocence of life. Father, do you stand for those who contribute more for abortions? Do you stand up for the ones who would dip a Crucifix in a jar of urine. Do you stand for the ones who scorn and scoff at the very sight of a person living their faith in God. The radical left detest and disdain, the Catholic church and it's members and everything the Church stands for. I would ask you how much of these sanctimonious liberals donate to you and the catholic church? 


How many of your parishioners have lost jobs, received reduced wages, told to pay more for health care for their families and then also put their weekly envelope into your basket on Sunday and never complain to you, or the leaders of the church. You ask your people to pray, to give and to donate to the church. Ask for money for the poor. Ask to reach deep into their hearts for more. And today you side with a lot of the very people that tomorrow will curse the very name of God. I add they probably cursed many times today. 


I also feel for the union members who say this will be a hardship but for far too long some have lived in their golden towers looking down on the poor and downtrodden and turned the other way. They hold the very gold that built the golden calf before Moses. 


Father, I have heard you are in bankruptcy proceedings. Would it be fair for the State of Wisconsin to commit bankruptcy also? For what reason did you make your financial decision? Was it because some were asking more of the Dioceses then you could give?  If Wisconsin cannot pay their bills, cannot collect any more from their citizens, would it be fair to lay off state employees? Should the State of Wisconsin be brought to it's knees? To have utter chaos spread across this state? It is in giving that we receive, obviously the union does not want to give.


Governor Walker was given this financial problem just as you were handed the problem with legal litigation of the Catholic church in Milwaukee. He is at the point where he must do what is right. Are you wrong for your decision?  God did not say it would be easy but we hope with His guidance, all His children will be loved and taken care of. 


Everyone will have their judgement day but for now we must do what we can to care for all in this world. To pit the unions against the rest of the people of Wisconsin who love God and love this great state is not what we envisioned. 


We can only pray that all in Wisconsin will stay calm and not lose their emotions. I myself as a believer in God and a part of the Church have to be on the side of the tax payers and Scott Walker. 


We can agree to disagree but I can only say your words will only intensify the situation. I feel you may have chose words that hurt and do not help a lot of people of this state.If the day would come for non believers to tear down His church for the sake of me believing in God Almighty, I will stand at the doors to protect the Lords house until He would call me home.


If you care and pray for the workers, please remind yourself that there are others that need God's help, Need His love and forgiveness. They are tax payers and contributors to your church.


I ask God will guide us. I also pray for people's safety and care.


Thank You Father.


Paul Berry Laker