Exactly. It was changed from Roman Catholicism to Vatican II Roman Catholicism and many of the changes were things people were forwarned about in regards to the dreaded modernism as it was called then.
For those who were “up on” the Catholicism of Pope Pius the 12th, who read or heard the words of that pontificate and the bishops of the 40s and 50s such as Bishop Sheen, the changes appeared to be what earlier Church leaders had seen in a somewhat prophetic manner as something terribly wrong filtering into the Church. Those who walked away felt it was no longer the faith that was passed down to them by their parents, that it had changed drastically.
It is important to understand that parents really understood their immense responsibilities to be the primary educators of their children and to pass on the faith that they received, not the changes from Vatican II if they differed from the faith in which they were raised.
This was a time when Catholics did not put their children into the public system - that would have been absolutely the last resort, and parishes helped educate the children of the parish regardless of their ability to pay the full tuition - often it was partially paid by another parishioner as the subculture of the parish was really functional and strong.
The convents and rectories were full and people went to confession weekly. To be Catholic was not comparable to being Presbyterian as it is now. There was a cultural difference as broad as an ocean. As a child I recall Priests speaking who were very much like Bishop Sheen in their oratory.
>>It is important to understand that parents really understood their immense responsibilities to be the primary educators of their children and to pass on the faith that they received, not the changes from Vatican II if they differed from the faith in which they were raised.<<
You have pegged it!
We lived our faith. It wasn’t a Sunday thing back then. You got a new car blessed, your house was blessed every year, celebrations for Saint’s Days, family rosaries, blessing Easter baskets, silence for three hours on Good Friday, you name it. It wasn’t a “Go to church on Sunday/confession once a year” thing. Everything centered on being Catholic. We were different.
A friend of mine from RI tells stories of living on the coast. People would bless themselves with ocean water before swimming. We prayed before starting a long trip and at restaurants (we still do). How often do you see any of that now?
Parents made young Catholics. Now, all of it is a coma in your life.