The Church and Intellectual Freedom, cont'd

I appreciate Michael P.'s link to Luke Timothy Johnson's piece in the latest Commonweal.  I am not a theologian, nor am I as learned as Johnson.  There is much in his description of the vocation and mission of theologians that strikes me as important, even inspiring.  But, I do not accept (or, have not yet accepted) what seems to be his starting, factual premise, namely, that there is a "big chill" at work in the Church with respect to theology.  I just don't see it.  (Of course, this could easily be because I am not a theologian!)  I am a layman, but I try to follow the debates, and my impression is that it is just not the case that all but the scrupulously consonant with the Magisterium are being silenced, marginalized, or chilled.  Nor is it clear to me that to be concerned, as some (including some in CDF) have been, about the content of theology at Catholic universities and about "truth in advertising" is to mistakenly regard theology merely as "catechesis."  What am I missing?