Dear Suzanne:

The Second Vatican Council did not change anything it was not suppose to do. Wherever you read that those people are lying or deluded.

To begin with, the only teachings that can be changed are disciplinary issues or those teachings which are not infallible. It is impossible for any pope or council to change anything of dogma and infallible doctrine. It cannot happen -- ever. Thus, it is impossible for the Council to change something it is not suppose to as the only unchangeable teachings are infallible teachings which the Holy Spirit guarantees will never change.

Level 1 and 2 teachings can never change. Level 3 and 4 teachings can possibly change. Disciplinary issues can be changed anytime the Church deems it necessary. (See Q&A on Levels of Church teaching.)

It is the Ultra-Traditionalist and sede vacantist loons who suggest that Vatican II changed things it was not suppose to. Usually these nuts think that the Church cannot change the liturgy of the Mass because they wrongly think that the Tridentine Mass is infallible.

There is no Mass that is infallible. The words of consecration must remain intact, but the rubrics of the rest of the Mass can change as the Church sees fit.

In order for something to be infallible it must be a teaching that:

1) can be traced to the early Church
2) a teaching that applies to the whole Church and not just a part of it
3) in the case of the extraordinary Magisterium, the Pope as the universal pastor sitting upon the Chair of Peter (or Ecumenical Council with the ratification of the Pope) must specifically declare that the teaching is an infallible teaching.

The Tridentine Mass does not apply to the whole Church, but only to the Roman Rite, therefore it is impossible for the rubrics to be infallible.

Therefore, the changes that Vatican II made to the Mass are fully within its rights to do. Those changes were needed changes and not arbitrary. There were no changes that effected doctrine.

The problem came later. When the new Mass of Pope Paul VI was written (Vatican II did not write it), there were problems. Those problems are being worked out. The revision of the Pope Paul VI Mass that is due to be released soon correct much of the problems. 

The abuses of the Mass, were just that -- abuses by priests who violated Vatican II teachings. The Tridentine Mass also suffered from many abuses. There will always be some priests who seek to do there own thing in violation of the rules.

Vatican II was a continuation of Vatican I held in 1869-70 to deal with rationalism, liberalism, and materialism, and settle the issue of Papal Infallibility. The council never finished its business because the Franco-Prussian War caused the suspension of the Council. The Council was never re-convened. Thus, the remaining pastoral issues on the agenda were not taken up again until Vatican II.

By the time of Vatican II, however, the world had changed dramatically. Rationalism, liberalism, and materialism were raging in our culture. The Church had to address the issues of the relationship of the Church with the modern world.

The biggest change in the liturgy was that the Responses in the Mass after Vatican II were said by the people instead of by the acolytes. The Council sought to bring greater lay participation in the liturgy.

There were other changes in the Mass, such as removing some repetitive elements, and restoring to the Mass a few more ancient prayers than were contained in the Tridentine Mass.

Contrary to the opinions of the Ultra-Traditionalists, Vatican II did not mandate the removal of Communion Rails,  the elimination of Latin, or the moving of the Tabernacle to some near-hidden place. All those things were decisions made by bishops.

Most of the problems we have seen have had little to nothing to do with Vatican II, but rather with liberal Bishops and priests.

You need to stay away from the people and literature of the Ultra-Traditionalist. There was nothing wrong with Vatican II. The Council, like all Ecumenical Councils, was a holy event.

All Catholics are bound to obey all teachings of the Holy Second Vatican Council. Why? Because the Council is an action of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Jesus appointed the Magisterium to guide and rule the Church and mandated that they must be obeyed when they make official declarations. To disobey the teachings of Vatican II is to disobey Christ Himself. Those who choose to disobey Christ do not love Him. Jesus himself said that in John 14:15  "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." 

The controversies we see are common after a Council. Historically it takes about 100 years for the dust to settle after an Ecumenical Council.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary