I am Catholic

I am Catholic. Roman Catholic. Born and raised Catholic. Baptized Catholic. Practicing Catholic. And I intend to be a Cradle to the Grave Catholic. (Not in a hurry to fulfill the last part, however.) I am NOT a Twice a Year Catholic. Nor a

Cafeteria Catholic. Nor am I a Baptized-but-no-longer-Practicing Catholic. And today, for the first time in quite some time I announce these things and say “I AM PROUD TO BE CATHOLIC.”  In the business world one is told to avoid the topics of religion and politics, and so I complied. I rarely discuss my views, understanding that I run a higher chance of alienating versus aligning when I venture down that road.  So, I have sat quietly by and listened to the constant attacks on my Church, and never thought to defend.
 From an early age I remember my brothers and I being the only kids in the neighborhood who weren’t “public schoolers”.  I remember overhearing adults discuss how greedy my Church was, how we were all about the money.  Thus, while it was hard to hide while wearing the uniform, once out of school I never went out of way to discuss my Catholicism. Why is the Church such a huge target? Even the negative portrayal of its membership as “twice-a-years” and “cafeterias” is an accepted slam that can be discussed in any area without reprisal. Why is that? Is there any other religious affiliation that allows itself to be regularly attacked while remaining silent?  Today I have made the decision to stand up and defend my Catholic Church.. yes MY Church, thanks to my pastor, Fr. Valencheck, who reminded me that I have every reason to be proud about being Catholic .

The Catholic Church is THE NUMBER ONE charitable organization in the world! Wow!  I spent my life feeling ashamed of the wealth associated with my religious affiliation and yet I now realize that the money I put in that collection basket every week is NOT being used to restore the gilding on the altar. Hospitals: 562 Catholic hospitals treated 85,283,351 patients. Other Health Care Centers: 373 centers treated 6,703,167 patients.  Provided Services that Build Strong Communities to 3,646,222 people. Provided Food Services to 6,287,891 people. Provided Services that Strengthen Families to 1,071,463 people. Provided Housing Related Services to 598,953 people. Provided Other Basic Needs Services to 1,741,844 people. Provided Disaster Services to 331,727 people.
So, if you’re a Catholic reading this, perhaps these facts will make you realize your Church is something to be of which you should be proud.   And by the way, you’re not alone… There are 68,115,001 Catholics in the United States1 (22% of the U.S. population), and 1 billion Catholics worldwide. And each year we grow with Infant Baptisms: 887,145 Adult Baptisms: 42,629 and those received into Full Communion: 81,775.  And if you’re not Catholic, I hope these numbers simply give you reason to pause, and perhaps ask the same question I did… why? Why is an organization deemed the most generous in the world only reported to the general public in the most disparaging terms possible?