Most people were enthusiastic about putting the new ideas of the Second Vatican Council into practice. In some countries, including the Netherlands, the focus on change was sometimes excessive, with innovation becoming a goal in its own right instead of a means to strengthen faith in Jesus.
It is noteworthy that particularly in this period a relatively large group of priests and religious broke their vows and withdrew from their religious vocation. However, many new congregations and lay movements were also established in the aftermath of the Council. Many of these congregations and movements are consciously focused on spreading the Gospel of Jesus.
