Weinandy's letter exposes the weakness of Francis' critics, and the bishop's conference has firmly confirmed that weakness. Listen to Weinandy's accusations: Intentional ambiguity. Portraying doctrine as dead and lifeless. Choosing wrong bishops. And last but not least, synodality. Even if you accept all of Weinandy's accusations of wrongdoing as true, which I don't, it's a pretty thin basis for taking on Francis. The truth, I suspect, is that Weinandy feels the implicit rejection of his personal approach to religion coming from Francis, and instead of prayerful reflection he (characteristically, I am sad to say) attacks.

Of course Weinandy, like each one of us, can think for himself. When he tries to think for me, though, that's where he runs into trouble. He doesn't have the chops.