Apr 6, '10 2:36 AM
Excerpts of an article written by Sam Miller, prominent
Cleveland Jewish businessman- - who is NOT a Catholic.
Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the
most important institutions that we have today in the United States , namely
the Catholic Church?
Do you know--the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million
students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a
savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The
graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%.
The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S.
with an enrollment of 700,000 students.
The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of
637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5
people--not just Catholics--in the United States today
But the press is vindictive and trying to totally
denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed
the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as
blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.
Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember.
For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual
intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual
contact in a study by the United Methodist Church , 41.8% of clergy women
reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually
harassed. Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia.
10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia.
This is not a Catholic Problem.
A study of American priests showed that most are happy in
the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most,
if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this
obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.
The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds.
The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the
fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests
that have probably been weeded out by now.
Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the
most important non-governmental agency in the United States. Then remember
what Jeremiah said: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for
the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find
rest for your souls'. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride
and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.
