Saint Patrick's Day and Catholicism

Happy Saint Patrick's Day to everyone, and especially to all those in the U.S. who claim Irish ancestry, myself included. Across the country people will celebrate with parades, parties, wearing green, and eating a traditional dinner of corned beef and cabbage. Some will use the day to get drunk, although as Bill O'Reilly noted, Saint Patrick would not have approved. Noted as a man who brought Christianity to Ireland, he was known for his humble service and his concern for the poor. We should all emulate that spirit of humility and Christian love.
Last week, after a short, two-day conclave, the Roman Catholic College of Cardinals elected a new pope, Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina, who takes the office as Pope Francis I. In what appears to be an effort toward new beginnings, Pope Francis is the first non-European, and the first Jesuit, to be elected pope. In his first day in office he called on the Church to minister to the poor, declaring that the Church should be "poor, and for the poor."
The Catholic Church has been embattled, particularly in the United States, as reports of pedophile priests abusing children sexually have exploded across the media. The fact that the Church itself was complicit in covering up these crimes and, in some cases, enabling these priests, however unintentionally, has caused some Catholics to question their faith and to drop out. Of course, such stories have not been exclusive to the Catholic Church; some well-known Protestant preachers have been found to be guilty of similar crimes. But as the largest denomination in the world, and the largest in the U.S. with more than 68 million members, the Catholic Church is the most visible. It also seems to be the target of more attacks by a news media ever ready to report the lascivious details of any rumored infraction by Christian leaders.
I am not Catholic; I am a Lutheran. But what I have seen of the Catholic Church in my lifetime has been a church body dedicated to helping the poor and to bringing the gospel to all, not just those in prosperous suburban neighborhoods. Yes, as a Lutheran I have some major differences with Catholicism over doctrine, but I still have to believe what the evidence of my eyes tells me: that the Catholic Church is there in the trenches with the poor and the disenfranchised. And that is what Jesus wants.
Unfortunately, all branches of Christianity are made up of flawed human beings, and I don't doubt that the new pope would agree whole-heartedly with that statement, perhaps even including himself. But the love of Jesus Christ is evident in what the Catholic Church has done throughout her 2,000 year history. My prayers are with Pope Francis, and with the whole Church of Christ, that we may attend to the true work of the church, which is spreading the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.