Tom Reese should know better put forth such a wasted argument as the US bishops' need a 'rebranding'.  What they need is to be replaced which is what the pope is trying to do. First he replaced a papal nuncio who was worthless in terms of identifying like-minded bishops for elevation to the College of Cardinals.  It will take a generation to breath new life into the American church.  If we think U.S. bishops are reactionary and politically (spiritually) conservative, imagine worshipping as a Catholic in many African countries today, in the Philippines or countries in northern Europe.  Must also note Reese's mention of the bishops abandonment of the ACA and hostility to anything-Obama.  I consider this a blatant example of institutional racism in the American church and bishop-promulgated prejudice against anything that is not deigned "Catholic" in thought or orientation.  Kathleen Sibelius, Nancy Pelosi, among others, all Catholic, involved in ACA creation.