Allow me to let you in on a little secret - I'm an American. Not only that, I'm proud to be an American and I think I live in a wonderful country with wonderful people. "American" is an important part of who I am.
For almost all of my life, my country has elected leaders that I have not trusted. Not only that, my country has done many things that I consider horribly wrong, and it has often supported dictators and other tyrants. American soldiers regularly commit atrocities that are completely abhorrent to me.
With all the horrible things my country has done and all the horrible people who have led it, I should be ashamed of my country, but I'm not sure I have reason to feel shame for being an American. After all, I have consistently opposed my country's actions when I thought they were wrong. I served my country as a soldier and as a civilian employee for 33 years, so I think I've earned the right to call myself a loyal American, even though I abhor many of the things my country has done, and I don't share the ideology of the conservatives who think of themselves as the only true Americans.

Now, take that statement and substitute "Catholic" for "American" and "church" for "country."

-Joe-