We are becoming the Church of cognitive dissonance. Let's begin by defining that psychological term:
Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort that occurs when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes, or when their behavior conflicts with their beliefs. This discomfort motivates people to change their beliefs, justify their actions, or avoid new information to reduce the inconsistency.
Think about that. What happens when the actions of our pope and bishops show diametrically opposed philosophies. How do you reconcile two mutually exclusive propositions? You can't! Jesus called Himself "The way, the truth and the life." Embracing truth means one has to choose. Which of two things is true, or are both untrue and is the truth elsewhere altogether.
