Jew defends Catholic Church

The quaint Mary Gate of Heaven Catholic Church in Negril.  The Crucifix, altar, lectern and chair were carved by a Negril resident.

In article below, a Jew defends the Catholic Church in America.
In Jamaica too, the Catholic Church runs some of the finest schools and is responsible for the founding of the country's largest outreach organisations which cater to every denomination and now serve the poor regionally and globally:

• Food for the Poor
• Missionaries of the Poor
• Mustard Seed Communities

( - Jean Anita)
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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 enrolment 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 paedophilia 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 behaviour; 17% of lay women have been sexually harassed.
"Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of paedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of paedophilia. 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."