The Rev. Dr. Robert Schuller said Wednesday he "could almost cry" when he ponders the sex-abuse scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic Church.

Rev. Schuller, an internationally known televangelist who hosts the "Hour of Power," was in Mercer County visiting his friend, international businessman James E. Winner Jr., before speaking today in Pittsburgh. Rev. Schuller stayed at Winner's Tara country inn in Clark.

Rev. Schuller said the recent child-abuse scandal has many innocent priests looking guilty simply because they are priests.

"My God, all these wonderful devoted Catholic priests are now under a cloud. It's guilt by association," Rev. Schuller said. "We should all pray for the priests and the Catholic church."

Rev. Schuller said that's exactly what he led his congregation to do last week. Instead of having the regular "Hour of Power" session, he said he closed services and asked the congregation and viewers to pray for the Catholic church.

"I'm a Protestant, but I love the Catholic church," said Rev. Schuller, who is a pastor in the Reformed Church in America.

He said the Pope has taken the right actions lately, including the gathering of American cardinals in Rome this week.

"The Pope's remarks Tuesday were very appropriate. There is no excuse for molesting a child," he said. "Coming out of a psychology background, I've observed (problematic) sexual behavior and it doesn't change. It's the most difficult to change."

Rev. Schuller made it clear that it wasn't his place to determine what the church's celibacy requirements should be for priests, but said he thought the rules "should be eliminated."

"I would be happy if the Catholic church eliminated its celibacy rule, but I shouldn't be the one to say what they should do." he said. "There are several arguments that go both ways. I am a man of God. I have normal natural desires. I've been with my first and only wife -- of 52 years -- and that's the only person I've ever been with."

Rev. Schuller said he wouldn't be surprised if an increase in abuse claims starts coming from other denominations.

"I'm sure the problem is not completely within the Roman Catholic church. I wouldn't be surprised if you found it in other denominations, but I have to say, I have never heard of a case like this in the Protestant church."

Rev. Schuller said he is also "pained" by the unfortunate events of the Middle East conflict, mainly the suicide bombings.

"I'm very, very sad and pained by Yasser Arafat's inability to stop the terrorist attacks, especially the suicide bombings. I'm not saying that he ordered them, but it is tragic," he said.

Rev. Schuller's radio program reaches listeners in the Middle East. He said he reaches out to all faiths.

"I'm the only Christian minister ever invited to preach a Christian sermon at a Muslim mosque," he said. "I have many friends in Israel. People in Israel have asked me to talk to Yasser Arafat and I have."

"I don't have any solutions. (But) I think there should be a Palestinian state. If Israel could survive it, they should move ..." out of the West Bank.

Winner said he met Rev. Schuller on Mother's Day last year after the evangelist "was gracious enough" to invite him to appear on his television program "as a Christian business man."

Returning the favor, Winner said he invited Rev. Schuller to visit Tara before his speaking engagement in Pittsburgh.

Rev. Schuller wears many hats. He's a minister, a motivational speaker and an author of 32 books.

In 1955, Rev. Schuller said, he was called by the Reformed Church in America to begin a new church in Garden Grove, Calif. With only $500, he rented a drive-in theater and conducted worship services from a tarpapered roof of the theater's snack bar. With his wife Arvella as organist, Rev. Schuller preached to attendees as they sat in their cars.

He said having an outdoor ministry gave him a love for the sky and inspired him to build the Crystal Cathedral, an all-glass church with room for 2,736 worshippers from which his weekly TV show is broadcast.

"We were put here to be God's instruments, which means to do something for him," he said. "We have to look for possibilities, problems and conflicts that need to be solved, and try to build a bridge. Possibility thinking never allows assumptions to shape our thoughts and our thinking. When they say 'it is impossible,' they are assuming it is because it's never been done."