Just days after leading German bishops were announcing plans to move forward with blessings for same-sex unions, despite Vatican objections, the German bishops’ conference is now indicating that it will not proceed with plans to convene a “synodal conference,” in which lay people would join with bishops in approving pastoral plans, because they do not have Vatican approval.

Two thoughts:

• The timing of the announcement suggests that the German bishops are responding to quiet but firm pressure from Rome— that in spite of Pope Leo’s evident reluctance to criticize the policies of his predecessor, “the carnival is over.”

• Some observers have hastened to note that the German hierarchy is waiting for Vatican approval (on one issue, anyway), while the SSPX plans to go ahead without it. But there’s a difference. What the SSPX proposes to do— ordain bishops— is under normal circumstances a good thing; only the lack of a papal mandate makes it wrong. From any ordinary Catholic perspective, blessing a same-sex union is not a good thing. If I refrain from robbing banks only because I “don’t have permission” from the local police, that’s not a sign of my virtue.