Sabotage? Highly doubtful. The press could care less about the reconciliation itself, and there is no reason to “sabotage” the effort. What they “go for the throat” for are things that they perceive to be politically incorrect.
Other than what I’ve seen in some recent threads here, I know nothing of the bishop in question. From what I’ve heard, he does not seem like the kind of person that I would want to know personally: the impression I get from those who speak for and against him is that he’s just a tad close to the lunatic fringe, and that is a bit much for my taste. But that’s just an impression.
If he is a victim of bad PR, that will come out and be clarified. If he is indeed what he appears to be, that will come out as well. The last thing HMC needs at this juncture is another cause of division, and I sincerely doubt that PP Benedict XVI would tolerate that sort of behavior.
In other words, I don’t think it’s for anyone other than PP Benedict XVI and Mgr Fellay to worry about. The facts will get sorted out in the process of reconciliation. As I’ve said in other threads, I’m not an SSPX-er, although I am pleased that there is now an opportunity to heal the wounds of the past and allow that priestly fraternity to resume its place in the mainstream life of HMC.
