I never experienced long political diatribes when I attended Catholic mass a few years ago. There wasn't much time for speaking as the mass itself is quite involved.

> It occurred to me that all of this must have been carefully planned at the highest levels of both the church and political/financial benefactors that support it.

I'm curious if we'll see leaks confirming this. Otherwise this might be an anecdote stretched a little too far. It's far more likely you've experienced some bad pastors.