The ground swell of support for reform in Germany is amazing. As a gay man who insists that religious condemnation of people like me is evil and must end, I am so heartened and warmed by German laypeople and clergy alike.

I can say the same thing as a man who supports the full and unquestioned equality of women in every human institution.

I’m stunned that the Roman Catholic Church will take no steps to give women real power.

As an American, I can’t help but ask myself why no such Reform movement is taking root here or seems likely to take root.

Certainly, many if not most American Catholic bishops are very evil men, who don’t hesitate to exercise power to hurt marginalized people. Often, they seem downright gleeful about it.

But what’s weird is that our lay people are nothing like that. Survey after survey show that American Catholics are some of the most progressive people in the nation, if not the world.

Yet movement for reform does not happen here. American Catholics continue to almost unquestionably fund and support an institution that stands diametrically opposed to most of their fundamental values.

I don’t get that, but I think the German experience might help explain. Do you have any insight?