Halachic pluralism is worthy of our support. Inevitably, Jews committed to halachic Judaism will disagree in matters of halacha and hashkafa. Different groups have the support of different gedolim. Each group operating within basic parameters deserves recognition as practitioners of traditional Judaism. Does Yeshiva Chovevei Torah qualify for this recognition?
YCT is run by rabbis with a YU background but are to the left of YU. They support women rabbis (or its equivalent) and take other positions which push the envelope. They are highly controversial in the Orthodox world among haredim and modern orthodox alike. YCT wants to forge a new derech they call Open Orthodoxy. Some see YCT as a new Conservative movement.
I recall reading a book of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein's essays where he stated that for a derech to have legitimacy it needs the backing of at least one Gadol b'Torah. In particular he argued that the basics of what is called modern orthodoxy or Torah Umada have credentials because of the qualifications of Rav Soloveitchik. Surely Rav Lichtenstein believes the same legitimacy applies to other drachim supported by other gedolim.
By this measure YCT fails the litmus test. There are no gedolim advocating Open Orthodoxy as articulated by YCT. No claim that Rav Soloveitchik would have supported YCT can be taken seriously. There are plenty of disputes about his views once we place him to the right of YCT. But Rav Soloveitchik surely never advocated anything like Open Orthodoxy.
None of YCT's rebbeim are known as gedolim. No gedolim serve on their advisory board. (http://www.yctorah.org/content/view/21/49/) The late Rav Amital, a distinguished talmid chacham, lived in Israel, was not an English speaker, and probably never knew what was really happening on the other side of the Atlantic.
No derech in Torah has ever had long-term success without the backing and guidance of gedolim. YCT is trying to overcome an iron law of history.
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