As a CHURCH we’d be better off without the tax-exempt status and with about half of those who currently call themselves “Catholics”. The foolish and short-sighted part is that, if the bishops really believed and told the truth and the feds tried to pull the tax-exempt status, I believe the Church would win anyway. So, the question is are the bishops foolish and short-sighted or are they hypocrites?
U.S. bishop approximate breakdown, my estimate based on your question:
About 1/2 are foolish bureaucrats steeped in clericalism and living insulated lives completely out out touch with reality, surrounded by sycophants, yes-men, peace-and-justice progressives, and “SOV2” liturgists. These fit the famous maxim, “A bishop is he who never has a bad meal and never hears the truth.”
About 1/4 dangerous apostates who know exactly what they are doing, seek to undermine the Church, who should be excommunicated.
About 1/4 heroic, courageous men who are devoted to Christ and the true Church and are usually seen as lone nutcases going out on a controversial limb by their fellow bishops. In other works, the good guys.
Our only hope is Sambi and the Pope getting more of the last category to replace the first two categories as they retire.