[Campion]

Do you really believe that Rome choosing not to enforce its directives on the American Bishops somehow absolves Rome of any responsibility?

It doesn't. It makes Rome even MORE culpable.

If the patient doesn't take the prescribed medicine, do you blame the doctor?

You guys have some bizarre idea that Rome functions as some divinely-appointed Führer, as if they had only to name the tune and have everyone dance to it in instaneous and perfect obedience.

The reality on the ground is a bit more complex.

[ksen]

If the patient doesn't take the prescribed medicine, do you blame the doctor?

The Pope-Archbishop-Bishop relationship is not the same as the Doctor-Patient relationship and you know it. Your doctor can't excommunicate you.

You guys have some bizarre idea that Rome functions as some divinely-appointed Führer, as if they had only to name the tune and have everyone dance to it in instaneous and perfect obedience.

Hmm, I wonder where we could have gotten that idea from? Maybe from the fact that Catholics are REQUIRED to be in submission to the Bishop of Rome?

The reality on the ground is a bit more complex.

No, not really. It's only complex when the Catholic Apologists try to make it complex in their effort to muddy the waters and hand wave these issues away.