Consistency from the Archdiocese of New York?

As the comments to this post by Ed Mechmann, an employee of the Archdiocese of New York, make clear, many souls aren't persuaded that inviting President Obama to the legendary Al Smith Dinner is defensible.

One has to wonder what is going on here.  Is the posting functionary's stated position the "official" response of the Archdiocese?  The sidebar on the blog disclaims all posts on the blog.  But it is utterly implausible that Mr. Mechmann's defense of the Cardinal's invitation to the President was posted on the Archdiocese's very own website without higher approval (otherwise we'd have a different problem), *especially* on a matter a contentious as this one. But how high did the approval in this case reach?  Any such approval renders the post the (at least) quasi-official position of the Archdiocese, if the very fact of its merely appearing on the Archdiocese's website -- whatever the disclaimers there -- doesn't already accomplish (nearly) that.

In any event, Catholics (and others of good will) should be insulted by this evasion/manoeurvre by the Archdiocese of New York.  The test balloon just issued by Mr. Mechmann's post shoud be shot down. If the invitation to President Obama can be defended, it should be -- and by the person(s) responsible for it.  The silence from the top and the mid-level defense occasion scandal to the faithful.