It all seems to revolve around those "values voters" who re-elected George W. Bush in 2004. The nostalgic wish to return to less embattled times is very normal and tends to cherry pick issues. Racial issues were high on the list of things changed since the 1950's. Competition in trade and manufacturing were all in favor of the USA as winner and survivor of WWII and its aftermath. Among Catholics there is a certain fairly large group pining for a return to the spectator role of the Latin liturgy, side altars, devotions and an apparent good supply of priests. Are things better today? Arguably, yes - but. With reforms comes displacements, which were poorly explained. With education and knowledge comes disagreements with authority. With personal responsibility comes come divergent ideas. Thus old style "do it because I told you to" doesn't get quite the same respect. Today's Vatican declaration about cremation looks like it will not likely change modern customs. The theology given is weak.