The only thing I disagree with you on is the idea that the HF did "irreparable damage to the church and to women".  He only said that JP2 made it basically impossible to change this stupid rule in the "foreseeable" future.  Part of the point I was trying to make is that the damage has already been done by the Pope's immediate predecessors and is going to take some time to repair. He is the leader of the whole church, including the currently disproportionately powerful minority of members who think JP2 and B16 were right about everything. It is going to take time, but God can repair anything.