Well, we're in trouble now

Well done. Yours is a sensible, intelligent, generous voice and your wise words should be heeded, or at least considered rather than denounced, by some of the haters.

Please don't misrepresent the facts. Notre Dame gave Obama an honorary degree, which in effect endorses the President's views. The Vatican is receiving Obama in an official capacity as a representative of the USA which does have diplomatic relations with the Vatican. I am proud of the strength of our Bishops and I would guess that the Holy Father is too.

You are mistaken, grossly mistaken, as to the differences between the Holy Father receiving President Obama as a head of state and a Catholic University giving him an honorary degree. President Obama, in many speeches has indicated his desire for moving forward the abortion agenda, loosened up embryonic stem cell research, which is scientifically, morally and financially irresponsible, and making statements such as " I would not want my daughter burdened with a child" . This goes against Catholic teaching and as it bore out he was allowed to give his spin. There was no "conversation" or "dialogue" to engage in with the president at the Notre Dame venue. On the other hand, the Holy Father clearly was able to speak to Mr. Obama on HIS agenda. Making Catholic Teachings clear. Very BIG difference.

This is not a voice of reason; it is actually the fallacy of false analogy. The pope is required and expected to meet with Obama, and does not do so for the purpose of honoring him (as Notre Dame did).

The only reason the Church is in a state of serious confusion is because many do not understand that abortion simply will not do. It is the paramount evil of our age and to deny it is absurd.

The "few" bishops who have spoken out have done so courageously, and their reward will be great in heaven. We cannot stand for injustice such as abortion, folks, and the fact that so many Catholics try to brush the issue under the carpet is disgraceful! But there will always be the courageous few to condemn the injustices of an age...remember Martin Luther King Jr? Was he afraid to be in the minority, a member of the few? Was he afraid to look silly? And what of those brave few Christians who protected Jews during the Holocaust? And what of Jesus? Was he afraid to speak out against the injustices of his age?

More moral relativism? Yes we are individual souls that grow in our understanding of the Faith but the Church itself does possess Truth -that is what Jesus promised; He would be with us all days and He would send the Holy Spirit to guide His beloved Church.If people want to reduce rhetoric and polarisation the first step would be to stop the labelling of people as conservative ,ultra orthodox, pro Vatican, liberal etcetera- we are all sinners and children of God and sons and daughters in the Church. The bishops' job is to make crystal clear what the Church teaches. We are not a human think tank with decisions arrived at by purely human endeavour. We belong to a divinely based institution which requires our human endeavours to be fed by grace and loyal obedience to the teachings of Jesus.
I disagree with the views of Father Jenkins and President Obama. I believe both men either consciously or unconsciously have become moral relativists. I can recognise both are talented and charismatic men but if you believe Truth is being betrayed or compromised you must speak out even at the risk of being labelled a conservative fool. History and our own flawed humanity teaches us that flattering rhetoric and fine appearance don't always mean that what is being offered is good and the ends cannot justify the use of immoral means to obtain that end eg using embryonic cells for research.The irony is God has had the last laugh because adult stem cell research is yielding very promising results already -a recent breakthrough indicating the potential to help with visual impairment.On the other hand despite all the hype there has been no great progree made by those proceeding down the dark path of using discarded embryos

" Notre Dame gave Obama an honorary degree, which in effect endorses the President's views."
This, of course, is YOUR spin of the event. Many, including the majority of American bishops, don't see it your way.