” What does this tell us about the silence of the remaining bishops on the upcoming commencement at Notre Dame? Certainly there are those who agree with the 68 who have gone on the record against his selection. Perhaps they think the issue has been sufficiently flogged, especially with the public statement by USCCB President Francis Cardinal George.
But how many simply disagree with those bishops and think Notre Dame is doing the right thing by honoring President Obama? Is this the meaning of their silence? Do the majority of U.S. bishops agree with Notre Dame? If so, that may well be one of the reasons Notre Dame’s officials felt free to issue the invitation in the first place.”
There is also the possibility that the majority of Latin Rite bishops in America take the Ecumenical Council proclaimed canon against bishops meddling in the affairs of other bishops’ dioceses more seriously than those few who will violate any canon to advance a political agenda.
Why do you keep saying this? To support what the ordinary is doing is meddling?
I know nothing of such a canon, teaching or tradition (no surprise there, since I'm not Catholic), but if it does exist, and the bishops are self-consciously observing it, I can see that as a legitimate excuse for a bishop's silence. But I seriously doubt that all of the silent bishops are doing so out of obedience to the canon.