[IIntense]

"And the real name of the sacrament is actually Penance."

And Masses were said in Latin throughout the United States, eating meat on Fridays was sinful, priests and no others distributed Holy Communion to the Catholic people, and only priests baptized babies and adult converts. In an emergency situation, someone else could baptize.

Regardless of how Catholics responded to the many changes, and I know some were not "comfortable", they had to accept and adjust.

The term Reconciliation was introduced as maybe an easier pill to swallow than Penance or Confession, (just speculating) though these terms have not disappeared.

Many have had, or still have, "pet peeves" about some of these changes. I understand yours but it isn't going away real soon, if ever.

[Desdemona]

And Masses were said in Latin throughout the United States,

I believe that it's coming back. It won't be exclusive, but it's coming back.

eating meat on Fridays was sinful,

Little known secret in the Catholic world - some Friday Penance still is, and abstinance from meat was never lifted.

priests and no others distributed Holy Communion to the Catholic people,

In my parish, it's that way.

and only priests baptized babies and adult converts. In an emergency situation, someone else could baptize.

Deacons couldn't?

[Conservative til I die]

The term Reconciliation was introduced as maybe an easier pill to swallow than Penance or Confession, (just speculating) though these terms have not disappeared.

I'm not sure on how we got to the Sacrament being called "Reconciliation". But, I always thought of Reconciliation being a two-step process: 1) Confession and 2) Penance. That's how I always tied the three words together, which I've used interchangeably myself.

[A.A. Cunningham]

eating meat on Fridays was sinful

We are still required to abstain. You still abstain, right?

Can. 1250 The days and times of penance for the universal Church are each Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.