C A T H O L I C S & none catholics


I thought you would find this information as interesting as I did.

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 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 totally 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. Please pass this on to every Catholic on your e-mail list. I found this
very interesting.