"Only Pope Francis could get away with saying that the church should not obsess over abortion, birth control and gay marriage."

This observation highlights a very serious problem WAY BEYOND BRANDING: 
What is wrong with so many U.S. bishops?  Did the past two popes drive debate away, molding it into hierachical bureaucratic consensus?  Prior to these 2 papal reigns, U.S. bishops had no fear unity would be diminished by strong difference of opinion within the Church. 

Where is the backbone of our so-called moderate U.S. bishops?  Has it gone soft for FEAR OF BEING BRANDED LIBERAL?  The conservative bishops certainly have no problems standing firm on their issues despite strong criticism.  Are the "moderate" bishops so invested in purifying the Church of its left/right differences that its Eucharist becomes insipid?  

Perhaps some bishops need space within a Vatican II Church/Rite/Prelature to be as true to their integrity as Opus Dei is to its integrity.  https://RiteBeyondRome.com