text: The converts you speak of so disparagingly have been on a long journey of faith towards the truth which was lacking in their lives. Having finally found it in the Catholic Church, they find that cradle Catholics are in the process of throwing this truth out of the window.
  From your first paragraph it seems to me that it you who doesn't understand Catholicism. The "rules" as you call them and the Catechism are a guide to living a Catholic life not to make it an obstacle course. "The "rules" are expected to be adhered to otherwise they are pointless and there are no exceptions to the Law of God as we will all find out on the Last Day.