Over emotional to what? Challenges to their religion?
Remember that many of them gave their lives to the religion. Their hopes, their dreams, their retirement, their prospects for marriage and children, their having a better life for themselves and their families, being part of their natural family's life, their old friends, and great many more.
The idea that they made a grave lifelong mistake - and that have and are encouraging others into that same grave mistake - will result in an over emotional protectional response.