The statistics back you up when you say that the downturn began around 1965. Without resolving the debate on whether Vatican II was the cause, we should at least be able to agree that the Council did not provide the solution-- or, to stretch the point, if the Council did provide a solution, that solution has not yet been implemented. Any way you look at it, a change of approach is necessary.

You're right, of course, that we need to identify the problem before we and solve it. But even before that, we need to recognize that a problem exists. With a few noteworthy exceptions, Church leaders don't show that recognition.