Various statements, interviews and such have been coming from the French bishops all week, as they have met in Lourdes. Their comments have only served to deepen the mystery of exactly what is going on with this rumored "Freeing of the Mass." Some have taken these words to mean that the French bishops have managed to put the brakes on the whole project, that they will have a disproportionate role in the fashioning of the final decision, and others have interpreted their words to mean that they’re just trying to prepare their brothers for the inevitable.

Fr. Z has done us a service by posting a couple of these statements and offering his own comments.

First, the tone here is far more positive toward the traditionalist problem than the early reporting might have suggested it cold be. However, the content cuts both ways. In justice both sides, traditionalists and progressives must be treated even handedly. What might be the reason for the more positive sound here? Does it come from the fact that the bishops now have a game plan (for good or ill)? Or is this Ricard’s way of delivering the game plan, whether they want it or not?

As for me, I have had the weirdest thought over the past day or so. One of the themes that Cardinal Ricard, in particular, keeps harping on is unity – in the statement quoted over at Fr. Z, he warns against creating an a la carte religion.

Um….

I certainly see what he means in the context of the French situation, but I keep wondering if there is just some ingenious, indirect pushing going on here from Benedict. Since bishops opposed to a "freeing" can’t really come right out and say why they’re opposed in the most direct terms, they’re going to talk a lot about "unity" and really wanting to make sure everyone is on the same page, and not just picking this or that way to celebrate Mass because they feel like it or out of a political agenda.

Yup..just keep talking. Maybe you’ll start listening to yourself at some point.