It depends on how you see the question at hand.
If it's a question that arises principally out of Catholic faith and moral theology, well, I think that Supreme is closer to the right answer than its detractors.
As a three-time Past Grand Knight, I can tell you that as Grand Knight of my Council, I was not the judge of any man's Catholicity. That was the job of our Chaplain.
I'm certainly entitled to my opinion, but that opinion has, and should have, very little formal meaning within the Church and her affiliates. I'm a laymen, not a cleric. I have my opinions, I may even share them with others, it is difficult to see the circumstances under which I may unilaterally, or in concert with other like-minded laypeople, give the force of law in any setting other than my own household.
The Knights of Columbus is mostly a lay organization, but hierarchs, from deacons to cardinals, are also members. And we take our spiritual and moral guidance from our members who are part of the hierarchy.
This is an attribute of the Order. It has many, many positive consequences, but at times, it may appear to have negative ones as well.
Now, if one strips the issue of its source in moral theology, then one might imagine the Knights acting. Stripped of its theological aspect, it is no longer a question of someone's Catholicity. But then, it would principally be a political issue, not a moral one, and Knights are not supposed to bring politics in the Council or Assembly (not that it's ever done - but I'm not quick to condemn Supreme if they're trying to avoid doing so).
I think most everyone will agree that it is the proper role of the hierarchy to be disciplining these men, and then all Catholic organizations could fall in behind the moral leadership of our priests and bishops.
I also think most everyone will agree that the hierarchy, collectively, is at grave fault for their failure to lead by disciplining wayward sons of the Church on these matters.
The question in dispute is whether or not laymen may rightly step into the role of the hierarchy because of their abdication of their proper role, whether the laymen of the Order may permissibly act in the stead of the hierarchy, especially the ordinaries of the dioceses of the offending men.
I go back and forth about this, but it's more than enough of a question in my mind that I find it difficult to muster criticism of Supreme for wishing not to get out in front of the bishops on this matter.
sitetest
Well, while we respect the role of bishop, you seem to agree that the episcopacy in the US is coming up short on leadership.
I was surprised that as a Grand Knight you would simply defer to the Chaplain whom one would assume to be an advisor, a consultant, and not the leader. (Just which bishops are giving weak-kneed advice to the national K of C?)
We’re not speaking here as to whether supporting abortion is right or wrong — the answer to that question is clear — we are speaking about the SCANDAL and confusion engendered by these political leaders proclaiming themselves as Catholics, by their supposed affiliation with the Catholic Church and its lay organizations, and then publicly acting otherwise, without reproach (think Cuomo, Dodd, et al.). And, of course, being booted from the K of C is not the same thing as excommunication.
— Former (and disappointed) Knight of Columbus