But reading over the timeline, it's hard not to draw the conclusion that the story -- or this particular chapter of the extended story -- is about Bp Lopes, though not in the way he's portrayed in the timeline account. I think the critical event was Treco publishing his homily at The Remnant on December 5, 2018. I've said here several times that I think US bishops have some situational awareness of the slipshod evaluation of candidates in the North American ordinariate, and Treco's homily became a case in point. The critical event isn't listed in the timeline on the web site, but it would presumably be a call from a brother bishop -- presumably a powerful one -- to Bp Lopes shortly after December 5. I suspect the tone was less than friendly, and it may have been backed up by a call to Rome.
The Remnant is one of several "traditionalist" thorns in the side of the US bishops, along with Church Militant, Lifesite News, and many others. I've got to say that my personal experience in the Church hasn't borne out the impression of day-to-day apostasy that these groups seem to want to sell, and in fact, I keep asking how, if Cardinal Mahony has been a poster boy for errant bishops, the capable and holy men I routinely see in our parish, passing through it, or working with it could have come through seminary and been promoted in the diocese's ranks during his tenure. The story just can't be that simple, and I give such sites less and less credence.
By the same token, I've got to wonder what Church Treco was complaining about, especially in light of what must be seen as even unjustifiable generosity by a series of authorities in allowing him to continue toward ordination. I've got to sympathize with the US bishops in their struggle to maintain an accurate public perception, as well as a perception among the faithful, of what the Church actually does day to day, as well as what it continues to be in human affairs.
So I've got to see the image of Treco putting unhelpful material up at The Remnant in the context of what seems more and more likely to me, a perception by the bishops that the ordinariate is drawing membership and support from the traddies who also support Church Militant, The Remnant, and the others, and their concern was directed not to poor Treco, who is just an irksome ant in this matter, but to Bp Lopes, who is seeking publicity as a new bishop in some measure by catering to angry traddies, who use their not-parishes as a way to bypass their local bishops.
I suspect this is a way to bring this issue to Bp Lopes's attention, as well as the issue of whom he's been ordaining. Treco has to be made aware that in this environment, he's not the issue, and his penalty is not going to be mitigated. Yet again, this is a very sad case. Fr Treco showed poor judgment in ever thinking he should leave the day job he had, and a number of Church authorities seem to have been negligent in not giving him more realistic guidance over a period of many years. We are culpable by inaction as well as action.
I wish Mr Treco well, but he's definitely going to have to get serious about a Plan B.
