Eliza,
I understand your point. This will be an interesting situation to watch since refusal to "obey" the pope could mean that these religious women will go off on their own.
The Catholic church in the US is no longer the huge power it was in the 50s. Churches and schools are closing. Money is tight. Scandals have rocked its foundations. I believe (my opinion) that many if not most Catholics make their moral decisions, eg birth control, without regard to the Church's official policy. I know many practicing Catholics who have had abortions.
Nuns in the 50s (my personal experience) turned the other way while priests molested boys. That resentment is part of the need to make decisions based on conscience rather than the dictates of a fallible even sinful bishop.Nuns today are college educated have matured in a society where women are more powerful. Different mind set.
M