This week, the news is taking center stage so far, revealing confusion within the Church, which affects virtually every aspect of ecclesiastical governance:

• Newly appointed Austrian bishop favors women as deacons, maybe priests
• Belgian religious called to Rome to explain euthanasia policy in hospitals
• Cardinal Bertone personally arranged renovations, witnesses says at Vatican corruption trial
• Pope’s new book carries preface by Italian gender-theory advocate

Of course, some other Christian groups have it worse: Archbishop of Canterbury: ‘I can’t give a straight answer’ on morality of homosexual acts.

It is probably a good thing that we cannot so easily laugh at the Anglicans any longer. Avoiding mockery is good. Indeed, caution in such matters is good. But the motive—I mean, Catholic embarrassment—is not good at all.