[Kolokotronis]

"I write marketing and advertising materials for a living. I recognize weasel language when i see it. (Probably because I have written too much of it myself)"

I've practiced law for 28 years and see the same thing you do. If this were a negotiation in the face of litigation, I'd try the same thing ECUSA is doing. This is full of what we call "Now you see me, now you don't" language. The idea is to get the other side to think there's movement on your side. This gets them involved in a dialog and then once they are really invested in a solution which doesn't involve litigation, settle cheap by giving the other side something which they think has value but really doesn't.

[AnAmericanMother]

Or, in other words, as a trial lawyer of my acquaintance once said, the ECUSA bishops have 'shown them a weasel.'

"But, your Honor, it's a very very small one."