No, not ASSUMED.......KNEW.
No Catholic I ever knew read the Bible. It just wasn't done. And yes, the practice was discussed.
We were told by the church that we could not understand it.
Matter of fact, a guy I worked with who was a loyal KoC member, and faithful, mass attending, practicing Catholic, who also happened to be the biggest thief of goods and time from the company (and everybody knew it), chastised me for following the Bible. After hearing of an incident where someone was reported to have died after stopping her medicine because some *faith healer* told her she was healed, he comes over red faced, sticks his finger in my face, and says (not very nicely) *And THAT'S what you get for following the Bible!!*
HE had no use for it and it was nearly 30 years ago, not really all that long. I have no noticed an improvement in attitude amongst Catholics in that time.
I personally apologize for the KofC member who was so misinformed....VERY sad...however, he was an individual....a member of a 2,013 year old religious organization that God Himself promised would exist until the end of time WITHOUT ERROR..the attitudes of individual Catholic, Protestant, Mormon, jew, whatever is basically meaningless....some are educated in their religion, some follow mommy and daddy and have no idea of what their religion teaqches, and others just think that they can do whatever they feel like and God will approve.....After all, if Christ died to redeem all mankind for all their sins...I can do whatever I like and Christ will have taken care of my responsibility....I'm home free....I believe so I'm saved!!!!!!!!!!!!!