Liberal Catholicism's decadence

At the Catholic church I attend, a submerged ideological tension exists:  The self-flattering ultralib wing is opposed by a conservative bloc.  A couple of times I've heard people saying that when Archbishop Nienstedt sent out his anti-gay dvd they mailed it back to him.  Snap!

Glancing at Strib headlines I see Priests told not to voice dissent--and it's one of those times I don't envy the position of church liberals.  The Catholic liberal tradition is a painful identity burden, since it's so plainly self-deluded.

There can be no liberalism underneath an all-male accountable-to-no one oligarchy. If you believe in dissent, gay rights, eliminating gender barriers and a Church hierarchy that is more attentive to the opinions of the laity--and you believe you have any more business in a Catholic church than does an atheist, you ought to have your head examined.

The Strib writes that ultralib Rev. Mike Tegeder 'said he believes the church is being too political...'  If you're a liberal Catholic, that's the genteel-hypocritical perspective you're required to adopt.  Archbishop Nienstedt:  Political.  Me:  Neutral. 

The liberal Catholic is in an exceptionally weak position to push back against an Archbishop Nienstedt--as he (the former) is asserting individual rights which the hierarchy is most unlikely to honor.  When the Church acts in its pigheadedly antigay, McCarthyite manner, the atheist can honestly acknowledge:  The Church is being true to Herself.