Good point. But! There are two forms of laity - those in the pews and those serving up on the altar. The problem is much deeper than you can imagine. Some of these bishops, like mine and Cardinal Mahony, subscribe to the 'Lay Ecclesial Ministry". Twenty years ago, citing a 'shortage of priests', the RC Bishop of Albany placed a nun in charge of a parish. Naturally, there was resistance, at first. After a while, however, the parishioners embraced her 'motherly' wisdom. This practice is spreading to other diocese run by similar minded bishops.
The problem with these situations is that once power has been accorded to a lay (even a religious) person, it is difficult, if not impossible to take it back. If tomorrow, a priest were available to be assigned to that parish, the nun and parishioners would probably reject the priest pastor or insist that he allow them to run "their" parish the way they have for the past 20 years.
Even more frightening, however, is that this 'trend' in thinking has now permeated the seminaries. Priests are no longer formed along the lines of 'ministry' but rather as 'sacramental ministers' for those Sacraments that cannot be filled by lay people, like consecrating the Eucharist. Not long ago, I happened to catch a locally televised mass. There was one priest and one deacon and the laity was comprised of no more than 10 people. Following the Consecration, both the priest and deacon sat down and two EMHCs stepped forward to distribute communion. This is absolutely nuts!
I have since 'gone East', and now attend the Divine Liturgy at a Maronite Catholic Church. The pastor runs the parish, along with an elected Parish Council (of which I am a member). Father has the final say, which is at it should be. The bishop has assigned this parisht to him, not us. He will be held responsible for its growth and, if applicable, failings. Communion is by intinction and only on the tongue. There are no EMCHs nor communion in the hand. There are no liturgical dancers, tambourines, holding hands during the Our Father and, best of all, there are NO lay ecclesial ministers. As JPII once noted, the Eastern Catholic Churches are the "jewels in the crown" of the One, Holy, Catholic Church.
"I know so many Episcopalians who are such good and moral people that I cannot but imagine that this event is going to wound them deeply."
My mother is one such person. She has spent the last couple years decrying the state of her Church. Today she has been in shock and has mentioned her feelings of loss repeatedly. As for me and my family, we left for a Continuing Parish years ago.