“As one who was raised in the pre-Vatican II days, including 16 years of Catholic education ending with a college diploma in 1965, I would have to answer in the negative.
“In my little corner of the world (upstate New York) we were all well aware of what mortal sin was, as well as its consequences.
“Our catechesis may have been overly legalistic at times, but it was not short on authentic Church teaching”.

We were intellectually – superficially – aware of the catechism. But how deep did it sink?
Perhaps you do not recall the [non] reception of Humanae Vitae. Encouraged by “theologians” bishops simply ignored it. It was too unpopular.

The ferocity of Judy Brown’s work is due to her having been told by her parish priest that it was OK to use the pill. When she discovered that he lied, she became and remains furious.

Bishop Shannon had the honesty to resign, without publicity, when he decided he could not accept Humanae Vitae.

“That is just the opposite from what I see today in that same little corner of the world”.

My point precisely. From overly “legalistic” to every man his own bishop, which is to say seeking excuses to do what we want to do, rather than what we ought to do.

I harp on this because I see a misunderstanding of the work of the Church. It is not to create an institution; that institution exists and is protected. It is rather the tiresome business of getting each of us into heaven which is our future and not being overly concerned with the future on earth.

As one who was raised in the pre-Vatican II days, including 16 years of Catholic education ending with a college diploma in 1965, I would have to answer in the negative.

In my little corner of the world (upstate New York) we were all well aware of what mortal sin was, as well as its consequences.

Our catechesis may have been overly legalistic at times, but it was not short on authentic Church teaching.

That is just the opposite from what I see today in that same little corner of the world.

A fine start to your contribution on the American Catholic website.

I do see these changes, but as Father Zuhlsdorf says, brick by brick.

Lets be the change agents at each of our own parishes as we assist our churches to return reverence and orthodoxy with charity back!

As the council fathers of Vatican II attempted to indicate, every person in the world is a potential Catholic. Being human is being almost a Catholic.

Was it not one of the weaknesses of the Church in pre Vatican II days that it had – that its members had – too certain a sense of salvation? That it did not pay attention to Satan who roams the world seeking whom he many devour?

The sudden rise of divorce, of contraception, of abortion demonstrated how weak were the defenses of Catholics against these temptations. And how too sure of themselves were our bishops, who even today do not “like” to bring up these subjects.

These failed shepherds will have much to explain when called to give their accounts.