The rumors regarding the possible lifting of the excommunication of the SSPXer’s who are excommunicated (which is not everyone, remember…it’s confusing) continue to swirl. This blog posts a translation of an Italian newspaper account, and the comments on the post are very interesting. Lots of speculation, and a little bit of grumbling from those who, in the end, have no interest in being reconcilied with the "novus ordo religion" with the "Neo-Catholics" anyway. This comment on the post summarized what I, in my great wisdom (not) have sort of sensed what the Pope is doing:

The only solution is Benedict’s: bring these folks back in and then let some of them leave overtly if they want to! "I’m not OUT! I’m IN!" "Okay, NOW you’re in." "What do you mean, I’m in? No way, not under these conditions…" "Well, then, do you now say you’re OUT?" Time and discussion will allow the Holy Spirit to make many of the disagreements moot.

Don’t confuse Benedict’s concessions about what arguments CAN be believed about religious freedom without being a heretic as a sign that he ACCEPTS those arguments. Anyone who reads his books knows full well that he doesn’t. The SSPX doesn’t just want its view of religious liberty accepted, it wants the other ones rejected as heretical and anti-traditional. THAT is what won’t happen.

They can fold their arms and harrumph all they like, but if Benedict lifts the excommunications, they and "their" bishops will be back again inside the Church (no, I don’t take seriously the arguments about "We weren’t excommunicated properly, etc.", they aren’t worthy of serious discussion–anyone in any circumstance can ALWAYS claim that disobedience constitutes "emergency" and therefore their latae sententiae excommunications are invalid)… they will be back in the Church again, WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT!. All talk of reconciliation will either be moot or a matter of secondary fix-it stuff. Checkmate, guys! Back in the "Conciliar Church"! And Rome, patient as always, will outwait you, til you tire of your excesses. Horror of horrors!

Oh, well. It’s better than "the True, True, Really TRUE, Traditional Catholic Church of Eternal Rome, (population 5,000; headquarters, Winona, Minnesota)" and waiting for a "real" Pope for hundreds of years, like the Shiites wait for the return of the Twelfth Imam.