I took a personality type test in a small group leadership class at my church. The test put the people in boxes, one of the boxes was how much you liked conflict or avoided conflict, with a sort of range in the middle being “right” for purposes of interaction within a church community (you don’t condemn the sins of everyone, berating them constantly, and giving them your opinion incessently as a person that seeks out conflict might . . . and you don’t watch a person sin or make an important mistake or treat someone badly and not say anything as a person that avoids conflict might). Sort of a way to let people know what type of mistakes they might make if they are in a position of church leadership.
This priest might think about how he feels about conflict.
On Rush's show yesterday, he made some interesting comments re why he's able to have fun with the Harry Reid Smear Letter. To summarize, he can enjoy it because a) Rush knows he's firmly in the right, and b) Rush knows that others "got his back" and support him in doing what's right.
IMO Neiderauer knew what he was doing, and he knew the "sisters" long before he did it. He went along with it (and was willing to endure the ensuring conflict) because IMO he believes he has a) and b) covered. His apology letter was a sham, when you consider the other activities that go on at Holy Cross under his watch, as well as his views about gay clergy.