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I received the following from Carol Boeddeker and Kathie Boelkes of Saint
Leo's Parish in Ava, Missouri, May 19, 2008. -- WebMeister
(Excerpts
of an article written by Sam Miller, prominent
Cleveland
Jewish businessman - NOT a Catholic) Submitted by Dee Lynd
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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 your Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the
other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. Your graduates
go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%, all at a cost to you. To the
rest of the Americans it's free.
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 you as 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. (emphasis, mine,
j.s.) 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. Be proud that you're a
Catholic.
Reprinted excerpts with permission of the Buckeye Bulletin - courtesy of
Brookside Council #3297, Cleveland Diocese.
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