Sam Miller Defends Catholic Church 

Excerpts of an article written by non-Catholic Sam Miller - a prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman: 

"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 the Church of $10 billion dollars, and 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 .

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 lay women have been sexually harassed.  

Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia, and 10% of Protestant ministers have been found guilty of the same. This is not just a Catholic problem! 

Meanwhile, 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.  

Walk with your shoulders high and your 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 people all over the world, no matter what their religions. 

Be proud that you're a Catholic."

Amazing that the Catholic Church finds an avid defender from outside its own flock!

 >> back to Home