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I am a convert to Catholicism, and in a very short time have had the opportunity of having both "traditionalist" and "progressive" Catholics group me as being with the opposite team. Since I never knew the pre-Vatican II Church, it is hard for me to comment with any first-hand experience.

What I can say is that I can hardly find anyone who is doing any good for the Church among the extremes of both camps. Many of the traditionalists I have encountered (and am good friends with, especially up in Houston) are making self-fulfilling prophecies. Like complaining about the Church shrinking as they themselves are walking out the door. Schism won't solve the problem, Luther proved that.

The liberal extremists, on the other hand, who caused this crisis, are treating it with a cure that is worse than the disease: people are leaving the Catholic Church, what do we do? I know, let's try to be 'less Catholic'! -yeah, THAT'S a brilliant strategy. I for one did not go through a very difficult conversion, suffer the loss of friends and the rejection of many family members to become a Catholic only to have the Church decide it doesn't want to be Catholic anymore.

So far, my way of looking at this has been in the context of past Church disasters (corruption, schisms, heresies etc). Clearly, there is alot I wish was different, and more like I hear it used to be. However, I prefer reformation to revolution and I trust that, as in the past, God will provide the saints to put His Church back on the right track.

The ferocity of divisions within the Catholic Church is something I was quite unprepared for, and remain somewhat at a loss over.

Your experiences with the extremes within the Church mirrors the reality and your comments are insightful.

I hope that regular posters and lurkers will reflect on what you said and recognize that to continue this war within is not Christlike nor Catholic and is very damaging to the Church in many ways.

I am sorry all of this is happening but I welcome you to the Catholic Church and am happy you are here. I believe you will find that despite the bickering and worse,there are great graces and blessings to be found that will strengthen you and bring great joy to you in the midst of these very troubled times for man in the world.

I can hardly find anyone who is doing any good for the Church among the extremes of both camps.

God, on the other hand, says, "The hot and the cold I will take in, but the lukewarm I will spit out of my mouth."

The ferocity of divisions within the Catholic Church is something I was quite unprepared for, and remain somewhat at a loss over.

You must not have realized that you were entering a Church suffering through the throes of revolution. Didn't you notice that the Church you joined had just recently instituted an entirely new liturgy, new doctrines, new practices? And even if you hadn't joined during this turbulent time, I hope you were aware that you were becoming part of the "Chruch militant." Remember that "Heaven is only won by force and the violent shall bear it away."

Glad you are here as well. Having read all of the "Surprised by Truth" books and being a fairly regular viewer of "The Journey Home" I am always surprised, confused and dismayed at how *some* family members and friends react to a soul who is intent on finding Truth and enters the Catholic Church after usually years of intense study and prayer.

I (cradle Catholic and revert) wasn't aware of the "push and pull" in the Church until I started to lurk on FR. As a pew warmer for years I was aware that something wasn't right in a lot of parishes... changes in catechism, missing traditions and watered down homilies - very different from when I received First Communion in 1967 while on my knees at an altar rail. However, when I started to post here I came across the "sky is falling" Catholics who pin all the blame on Vatican II. Reading the docs of Vatican II, I can't see the reason for believing that... the Church did have to interact with the "modern" world and go out in it... we were pretty insular before that.

I have great hope for the future when I look at some of the wonderfully faithful and devoted young priests being ordained even in my own archdiocese - Boston.

The ferocity of divisions within the Catholic Church is something I was quite unprepared for, and remain somewhat at a loss over.

One of the few lucid observations of Solange Hertz was that the factionalism in the Church is indicative of a fall from grace of those who place themselves within it. Just as the Jews have Orthodox, Conservative, and Liberal, we have Traditionalist, Conservative, and Progressive.

Oh for a handful of plain old Orthodox Catholics!