Because every institution and every organization has its faults, Sorcha. So, the choice is to work to fix the places you call your own, or to keep searching for some new place where somebody else has already done the housecleaning.

The Catholic Church is where I come from, and I've lived a good life as a Catholic. The faith it teaches is MY faith, a faith that has brought joy and meaning to my life. I don't like the way some Catholics interpret the faith, but I am not required to accept their interpretation. The Catholic Church has allowed me many opportunities to do what I think ought to be done in the area of serving the poor and the causes of social justice and civil rights and peace. It gives me a platform from which I have been able to teach and serve thousands of people over the years. I am appalled by the widespread child abuse and coverups, but those things are not an integral part of the Catholic Church; and much has been done to fix those problems in the US. And the child molestation and coverups are not as widespread and people seem to think. From 1950-2000 in my diocese for example, the molestations took place in ten to 15 of the 99 parishes in the diocese, and there were ten priests accused out of about 300. And in my diocese, the bishop didn't cover the offenses up.

I suppose I could be an Episcopalian or Lutheran or Unitarian or Methodist or Jew, and I do feel welcomed and comfortable in all of those denominations; but those religious aren't where I come from. The Catholic Church is my home. It has lots of problems, but it is MY home, and where I feel at home. So, I'll stay where I am and continue to work to fix the problems. The problems were horrible - but the vast majority of American Catholics were not affected by them.

Same thing goes for drunk driving. It is indeed a horrible problem - and some people, most scandalously law enforcement officers and politicians, have not been prosecuted for the drunk driving crimes they have committed. There are far too many drunk drivers in my county and some have caused death and serious industry. So, should I move to another county? If I stay here, does that mean I believe in drunk driving?

-Joe-