Cleveland Man Incensed Over
Catholicism Targeted In The Media
Friday, May 2nd, 2008
Sam Miller, prominent Cleveland businessman - Jewish, not Catholic -
is fighting mad about the seemingly concentrated effort by the
media to disparage the Catholic Church in the United States.
The following are excerpts of a speech by well-known Cleveland
businessman Mr. Miller at the City Club of Cleveland, given on Thursday,
March 6. Even though of the Jewish faith, Miller has been a staunch
supporter of the Cleveland Diocese and Bishop Anthony Pilla. It was
published in the May-June issue of the Buckeye Bulletin.
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 clergywomen 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.
Thanks,
Pete!
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