Great post Russel.  The fundamental question that is not getting answered is whether the RCC needs to posture as a nation state.  I use the term 'posture' because the Vatican City State demands the rights of a nation but consistently shirks the corresponding accountability because it will turn around and claim to be a religious organization.  The USCCB is playing a similar game with the Obama administration through it's blatant misuse of the concept of religious freedom.

There will be no lasting reform as long as Catholicism at it's highest levels has notions of being a global political power.