U.S. bishops have done more than speak out on bathrooms in churches. Many of them have rushed headlong into endorsing knee-jerk legislation prohibiting transgender persons from using public restrooms of their choice in several states.

My issue isn't so much with their position. Many people, myself included, are still trying to come to an informed and just position on the issue of gender identity, and good people can disagree. My problem was the overblown push for a legislative solution without any thoughtful discussion, and the implication that there's a crisis in this country regarding proper bathroom usage.

Increasingly, the U.S. bishops are going all-in on conservative social legislation, and that strategy is backfiring on them. They'd be wise to do what Pope Francis is doing and encourage respectful dialogue instead.