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	Diocese Mum on Report of Bishop's Resignation WNEP August 29, 2009 http://www.wnep.com/wnep-scr-diocese-mum-martino-resignation,0,7515262.story [with video] One day after Newswatch 16 reported Bishop Joseph Martino will be stepping down from his post in the Diocese of Scranton, little is being said about the change of power in the diocese. Diocese officials are not saying anything about the status of Bishop Joseph Martino. They would not confirm nor deny the bishop is leaving. They only handed out a news release which states a news conference will be held Monday morning. Newswatch 16 learned late Thursday night that Bishop Martino may be stepping down due to health reasons. The leader of the Scranton diocese has had a history of controversy over closed churches and schools and his public statements on church policy. The diocese will not confirm nor deny the reports that the bishop is stepping down. We have to wait until the news conference Monday which the public is not allowed to attend and the "location cannot be disclosed." It will be broadcast live on WNEP-TV, WNEP 2 and WNEP.com. Senator Bob Casey was in Scranton Friday afternoon and when asked about the bishop's status said, "I don't really have a comment because it doesn't involve the work I do. I'm sure whatever happens our diocese will be in good shape." Some parishioners have mixed feelings about the news of Bishop Martino's impending departure. Some belive the bishop was put into this position to save the diocese money and now that he's done that, he's moving on. Others feel he was put into a difficult situation and had to make the best of it. "Well he had a tough job to do. Somebody had to do it. I guess it fell on his shoulders but I think he did alright,yes," said Lorraine Alaino of Waverly. "Canceling the churches and moving people from one church to another, that's probably his worse problem right here. Over the wholve valley, from Forest City to Wilkes-Barre and beyond. Even in the outlying areas. That's the biggest problem, I think," said Bob Welsch of Peckville.
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