Those theologians write/wrote for TODAY'S people to understand that they must be both modern and Catholic.  Since neither JP II, Benedict nor most of the bishops were able to teach that----they did.

Far from being rogues---they provide ongoing, challenging, interesting stimulus to THINKING Catholics as to how to live as Catholic/Christians in today's world.  Sorry to say----the crew that you're defending are/were AFRAID of ambiguity, afraid of admitting that there are questions that DESERVE examination and often new answers.  Instead, we had decades where when new moral or ecclesiological questions opened---people like Burke believe that it is a sign of weakness, lack of faith, and/or of yielding to the world's ambiguity and relativism.  These theologians had the courage to present these issues to the people when the hierarchy just wanted the people to remain forever in a devotional state and simpleminded.