I received this article via email from a good friend of mine, Fr. Paul Breton, an independent Catholic priest and more often than not, an outspoken voice of objection to theology, statements and actions which come from the Holy See. This article was written by Sam Miller, a prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman - NOT a Catholic. This article is not about Pope Benedict XVI, the sexual abuse headlines from Europe, or even the grave actions made by United States bishops in the past which certainly didn't help the abuse which was taking place by certain priests. This article is about the constant stigma of stereotype labeled between Catholics and the sickness of pedophilia. Every Catholic should read this article. Every non-Catholic should read this article.
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. Be proud that you're a Catholic.
I'm sorry, but I'm afraid Miller missed the mark here.
ReplyDeleteThrowing out lots of irrelevant numbers (schools, colleges and hospitals) isn't going to justify the horror these abused kids had to go through... unless he's implying helping one group of people gives the church the license to hurt another group.
Calling this "not a Catholic Problem" is just appalling. We're talking about years and years of child abuse and rape here. Years and years of cover-up and denial. ONE case is too many. "They are even worse!" is no way an excuse... unless he's implying the Catholic Church can rape 10 kids because the other church rapes 11.
Comparing paedophilia with "sexual intercourse with a parishioner" doesn't make any sense. Sex between two consenting adults isn't a crime. It may be prohibited according to the bible/rule of the Church, but the problem is kids cannot give consent. Period. It's a total abuse of power and authority.
Non-consensual sex is rape. it doesn't matter who or which church does it, rape is still wrong and illegal.
I don't think the general public genuinely blame "paedophilia on the Catholic Church" the way Miller described. Instead, people criticize the Church for ignoring/denying the problem, or playing the blame game when these child abuse cases surface. Don't blame the press for revealing your skeletons in the closet.
The only way for the Catholic Church to retain its integrity (or whatever is left) is to come clean. Take the responsibility. Apologize to the victims. List all the ones responsible, promptly kick them out of the Church, and make them stand trial through the court of the land (NOT a make-shift "tribunal" within the Church).
PB