The embrace of conservative Catholics with conservative evangelicals reduces the former's credibility. The embrace of members of the USCCB with the GOP and by extension all thing 'conservative' to the detriment of the poor and others who are vulnerable reduces the credibility of 'our shepherds'. With their loss of credibility comes a loss of authority with all but the credulous. That seems to sum up the growth of the 'nones' and the lack of participation by many non-right wing Catholics in our church.