1. Joseph Francis Martino was born on May 1,1946 and is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Scranton in Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2009.
22 Facts About Joseph Martino
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Joseph Martino previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1996 to 2003.
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Joseph Martino studied at Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia and at St Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.
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Joseph Martino then attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he obtained his doctorate in ecclesiastical history and Licentiate of Sacred Theology.
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Joseph Martino taught at Bishop Shanahan High School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, from 1982 to 1984.
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Joseph Martino wrote the official document requesting the beatification of Sister Katharine Drexel.
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From 1986 to 1992, Joseph Martino served as dean of formation in the Theology Division and assistant professor of church history at St Charles Borromeo Seminary.
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Joseph Martino served as director of the archdiocesan Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and for the Office for Renewal of Pastoral Life.
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On January 24,1996, Joseph Martino was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia and titular bishop of Cellae in Mauretania by Pope John Paul II.
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Joseph Martino 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.
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Joseph Martino was named as the ninth bishop of Scranton on July 5,2003, by John Paul II.
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Joseph Martino was installed on October 1,2003, at St Peter's Cathedral in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
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In January 2007, Joseph Martino decided to close five Catholic high schools and 13 elementary schools.
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In January 2009, Joseph Martino announced that, due to a priest shortage and diminishing financial resources, the diocese would either close or consolidate almost half of its 209 parishes.
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In 2008, Joseph Martino decertified the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers, a teachers union that had functioned in the diocese for 30 years.
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Joseph Martino replaced it with a diocesan association of teachers.
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Joseph Martino submitted a letter of resignation as bishop of Scranton to Pope Benedict XVI in June 2009, citing his poor health.
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Joseph Martino's resignation was accepted by Benedict XVI on August 31,2009.
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Joseph Martino confirmed that Biden would be refused communion should he tour the region.
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On February 17,2009, Joseph Martino expressed his "absolute disapproval" of Misericordia University inviting Keith Boykin, a best-selling author and LGBTQ rights advocate, to speak at its annual dinner as part of Black History Month.
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Also in February 2009, Joseph Martino condemned an upcoming production at Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, of the Eve Ensler play, The Vagina Monologues.
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In late February 2009, Joseph 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.