Two institutions in which millions if not billions have placed their faith have come under siege lately and it seems that Toyota—whose faithful believe in its almost divine and unimpeachable quality, has been doing a better job of handling bad behavior than the Pope.
To date, Toyota has recalled and adjusted millions of cars whereas the Church has been unable to adjust even a portion of Priests who are having trouble with their “Wishboner suspension.”
Social organizations, whether they are corporations or churches or sports teams, almost always get involved in scandals of one sort or another. It's human, and therefore, corporate nature. If scandal is handled humanely and honestly the entity concerned usually emerges stronger and healthier.
My guess is that Toyota will regain any lost marketshare whereas the Pope will continue to lose the faithful.
George, There is no problem with Toyotas. Recent research suggests that all the people having these 'accidents' are old people. The brakes are fine. But the people keep stepping on the wrong pedals and are afraid to admit they made such a stupid mistake. Pretty much the same help true for the Audi braking scandal of about 15 years ago. No one could find a problem, except with the drivers. You asked for it, you got it.
ReplyDeleteI figured as much. In fifteen years we'll find out that Ford and GM are behind the Toyota bashing.
ReplyDeleteBe proud to be a Catholic
ReplyDeleteBy Sam Miller, prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman – (NOT Catholic) 2009-01-05 .
Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the USA,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 tothe 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 selfinflicted 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.