The "virus of polarization" roared into the Church with the election of Karol Wojtyla and his subsequent actions to punish anyone who did not agree with him.  These actions slammed the door on any hope of real reform and encouraged those who wanted to show the door to those who would disagree with the "new wind".  And, then of course, there was Ratzinger's  purer smaller church .... Talk about polarization .....