“Numbers vary from source to source,...”
Yes, but if anything, the wiki article is generous regarding the numbers of “Protestants” in the USA. As the article states, and as every study I've seen indicates, the number of folks who identify as Christians is falling fairly quickly, while the number of folks who identify as Catholic is about holding steady. The data that I quote are already two years old, and even if accurate then, there has probably been a further decline in the number of Protestants just in that period.
In fact, within the same article, 2008 aggregate numbers are quoted, showing Christian affiliation down to 76%. From 1990 to 2008, Christian self-identification fell from 86% to 76%. As recently as 20 years ago, Protestants DID comprise 70% or more (perhaps even 75%) of Christians in the US. But nowhere close today. “More than 75%” of Christians is a significant exaggeration (which, by the way, was the only point I made in my first and second posts).
“I said that I would be surprised if Protestants are so highly represented in homosexual molestation.”
There is very little systematic research that I've seen concerning homosexual acts by Protestant clergy. My best guess is that it varies widely from denomination to denomination. I imagine there are far more homosexual abusers in denominations that are very accepting of homosexual clergy than in denominations that still reject the same. Just a guess on my part.
I have seen direct comparisons between Catholics and Protestants of overall sexual impropriety. The few studies I've seen suggest that Protestant (and Jewish) clergy have a significantly higher overall rate of sexual misconduct (much of it, though, legal conduct).
The article cites American studies of clergy abuse as I suspect that there just isn't much research of clergy abuse in other places. Especially abuse committed by non-Catholics. I think that there are some rocks that folks just don't want to lift to see what's living underneath them in other places.
Thus, it's likely that the citation of American studies has to do with availability of data, not an attack on America.
Finally, to reiterate, most Catholics don't view folks in the Vatican as “foreigners.” They are fellow Catholics, members of Christ's Church, His Body. And indeed, the folks in the Vatican come from all over the world, not just Europe. In fact, a fair number are... American.
sitetest
I just realized some of you like this Vatican statement and are not bothered by it at all.
As an American it does bug me to see American Jews and Protestants dragged into this thing between the UN and the Vatican.
Saying that child abuse is “common” in American Jewish Synagogues is really even more disgusting.