[Tantumergo]

"And where does one find that peaceful middle ground between extreme traditionalist and "extreme" conservative? I like to think that is what I'm trying to do, but I doubt I'm having much real success at it here."

You seem to be having more success than most - you are prepared to defend the Holy Father against wild accusation, but at the same time you have been honest about the things that give you and many of us just concern.

I don't think the "middle ground" is necessarily peaceful or easy. GK Chesterton described orthodoxy as walking a tightrope without a safety harness (hopelessly inept paraphrase on my part) and that this is the truly radical untried path in the life of the Church. It is always easier to veer off to the right or to the left than to follow the hard and narrow way.

[Polycarp]

this is the truly radical untried path in the life of the Church

Amen. Thank you for your insights.

[american colleen]

"I don't think the "middle ground" is necessarily peaceful or easy. GK Chesterton described orthodoxy as walking a tightrope without a safety harness (hopelessly inept paraphrase on my part) and that this is the truly radical untried path in the life of the Church. It is always easier to veer off to the right or to the left than to follow the hard and narrow way."

Thank you! This is very inspirational and thought provoking. And wise.