What we have here in the U.S. is a startling parallel to the political/religious landscape under totalitarian regimes like China. In China, there are two different "versions" of the Catholic Church: an official government-approved church that functions as an arm of the state, and the real Catholic Church that functions underground, faces persecution, and often must carry out its religious activities in absentia through a secret hierarchy that sits in Rome or elsewhere in the world.
It really is this simple. American "Catholic" leaders like Teddy Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi and Kathy Sebelius have played the role of the state-sanctioned "church" even though there's nothing Catholic about them. The Catholic laity face the injustices of radical secularism on their own, with little or no support from the bishops that are supposed to be their shepherds (in fact, most of these bishops are on the same side as the minions of Satan who carry out this travesty).
And Timmy Dolan is just some jack@ss who's going to get dressed up for Halloween and make an appearance at this thing called the Al Smith Dinner to lend the whole farce some credibility in this election year.
Flame away, folks.
I like your comparison of the two levels of Catholcism in China with what is seemingly happening in the U. S.
I don’t agree with your last statement though in obedience to my priest, bishop, Cardinal, Pope.
Interesting, unique analysis. well said.