This whole thing is a nightmare indeed. Although I can almost see where this sort of thing could happen quite easily. If Bishop Fellay was made to agree (as a condition of "moving forward") to obey in everything not contrary to faith and morals, or his priestly mission... I suppose defending Bishop Williamson's views on the h0Ɩ0cαųst's execution probably isn't terribly high on the list of morally vital things he's willing to fight tooth and nail about.
The thing I'm watching, is whether or not the SSPX betrays it's REAL mission... which is NOT to stand up for this kind of thing, but for the Faith and tradition. If the result is that tradition (and truths directly related to it) is freed totally and completely for all people everywhere, and the errors and REAL blights on truth (things against the Faith) are removed from catechisms and from the churches, and the Faith is restored... I can't say that I much care what everyone believes about everything else. As long as they stand up for the traditional faith, and turn the ship around, they've fulfilled their mission.
Of course other "traditionalist" groups have joined with Rome in the past, and piece by piece have either agreed to accept the new religion and the new mass, or have been made to say it themselves. Somehow, as scandalous as this whole episode may be to some people, I can't see the SSPX doing that. Or at least I cannot see any of the bishops doing that, even if some of the men under them fall into the snare. Secondly, the other groups are basically silenced... not about matters of the world, but matters of tradition, and the errors of the new religion. This is the other point of betrayal to watch for. Again, I cannot see Bishop Fellay putting on neon robes and smiling through the novus ordo. I cannot see him pretending that the new religion is all right. If the situation he finds himself in amounts to his being silenced, and the true Catholic Faith being smothered, I think he would quickly go right back where he was before, before he would just lay down and shut up, and let tradition go out with a whimper... or worse yet, without even a whimper.
There are, obviously, very real dangers, and very real betrayals in situations like this. But I think people are missing that THESE are the points (the mass, the truth about Catholic doctrine, and what's wrong with the new stuff) that really matter. If they could never give one talk, write one letter or say in one sermon anything about the h0Ɩ0cαųst again, I wouldn't care, so long as they continue to fight for the recognition that the Church has been filled with a deadly anti-religion, and that it's high time that it's fixed. When I see them saying novus ordo masses, and no longer speaking out about what is wrong with the Church, THEN I would have reason to think they had truly betrayed. For now, I'm writing this cheap tabloid scandal stuff off as a tactical necessity to win the real war.
If Rome gets to matters of dogma and faith and finds that these men don't budge, I think it will be proven that people have, because of this ridiculous episode, grossly underestimated what kind of men these bishops are.
I just hope people keep up that perpetual Rosary crusade. It may well amount to the sword and shield of the truth in this mess. With it, things may end up surprising everyone (for the better). Without it, who knows how many will really and truly fall.