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The Pope certainly can get involved, big time. He is the top of the chain of command, the bishops answer to him.

Certainly he can do plenty to show his disapproval of the entire debacle.

He may not be able to stop it, but he can encourage his clergy and flock to 1. not be in attendance, and 2. He can end Vatican support of ND if it exists and ask Catholics to cease giving to the institution.

The institution would suffer greatly because of his actions on this.

That should do it.

He is indeed at the top; but there's Canon Law, which in this case you could say is (OK, imperfectly) analogical to a constitution, separation of powers and procedural due process. It's up to the Bishop; and even more, to the University Trustees. It's they that need to either see the light, or feel the heat.

I share your frustration. I share your strong wish that that somebody, somehere, should put a stop to this, stat.

But it is a little ironic that the Church administration gets criticized for being monarchical, and then gets criticized for NOT being monarchical; the pope gets derided in some quarters for claiming a limited infallibility, by people who nonethless expect him to be omnipotent.

Cardinal George, the head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, urged concerned Catholics "to do what you are supposed to be doing: to call, to email, to write letters, to express what's in your heart about this."

In all truth, I think that the laity have power here that bishops can only dream of.

Particularly significant is the donors' boycott.

As Catholic convert, layman, and blogger Mark Shea says, "If integrity does not drive allegedly Catholic schools to their knees in repentant shame, then perhaps waning contributions from disgusted alumni and supporters will. If Mammon is their god, then let it be their judge."