I read a very interesting post - maybe it was yours? - about Hesburgh, the bishops and birth control. History has vindicated Paul VI in what was the one brave, defiant act of his papacy, since the Catholic acceptance of birth control is what has led to the collapse of the family, the decline of Europe, the resulting Muslim invasion and a host of other evils.
But at the time, the modernist bishops - not queens, but all hearty, hail-fellow-well-met types like Hesburgh - refused to support Humanae Vitae and this was the opening wedge. Once the average Catholic in the pew realized that you were permitted to pick what you wanted to support (because it was easiest for you, obviously) and what you didn't, based on the example of their bishops, all bets were off and the authority of the Pope and of the heirarchy, including the local diocesan bishop, collapsed.
Obama invoked Bernardin, another patron saint of blurring and distorting teaching on abortion.