The Games Translators Play

As pointed out by the inestimable Fr. Z (and reported by CWN), the English-translation jiggerbugger/liturgeisters were working when translating B-16's recent document.

Yup. It changed the meaning. Not by 180 degrees (that sort of thing is reserved to retired Cardinals of Washington DC.) But just enough.

Here's the scoop:

In order to express more clearly the unity and universality of the Church, I wish to endorse the proposal made by the Synod of Bishops, in harmony with the directives of the Second Vatican Council, that, with the exception of the readings, the homily and the prayer of the faithful, such liturgies [i.e., large-scale or international liturgies] could be celebrated in Latin. [Para. 62]

But that's not what the Latin said:

Ad melius ostendendam unitatem et universalitatem Ecclesiae, cupimus commendare suasiones Synodi Episcoporum, consonantes cum normis Concilii Vaticani II: exceptis lectionibus, homilia et oratione fidelium, aequum est ut huiusmodi celebrationes fiant lingua Latina

And as we all know from the Preface' Dialogue, "Aequum est" is better translated "It is FITTING," (or "it is right.")

An erosion here, a corner de-burred there, and pretty soon you have Liturgeist-Approved Translations!