Too bad I am not young anymore!
Seriously, I have this lingering suspicion that introducing altar girls was just a small part of a bigger postmodernist project, namely, creating a society where norms are constantly changing, which really means the absence of norms. A society where everything is relative, nothig is evil, except racism, sexism and homophobia.
A constantly changing liturgy is a part of this project.
This is not a moral issue - it is a religious thing related to the spiritual order. Same way as the fact that woman was created from man (from Adam's rib) or that woman should cover her head during the worship while man has to uncover his head.
When the first Christians established the Church order their pagan neigbours had priestesses, girls serving in the pagan temples and celebration of gay life. Christians went against the current because they obeying the true God. Now people return to the old errors with the Episcopalians leading the way.
By all means, talk about it. Don't just make a flippant and completely unsupported comment.
Where are you coming from?
A tiny backwater known as New York City, where I was raised in an obscure sect known as the Roman Catholic Church.
Rosa Park's disobedience (refusing to give up her seat when ordered) forced this country to take a harsh look at some of its terrible traditions and customs.
In point of fact, Rosa Parks' choice of seat went unremarked - it was only later that her role was acknowledged as the story of the Birmingham bus boycott became better known.
Comparing the authority of the management of the Birmingham Public Bus Company to the authority of the Holy See is a bit silly.
Essentially you're arguing that two thousand years of the Church's witness is "terrible" because it upsets the sensibilities of Gloria Steinem. In that case, why bother being a Catholic at all, if you think that the Church could essentially have everything all wrong since Pentecost?
Frankly I don't care how the practice of altar girls came about...whether it started 15 years ago or 150 years ago, it is totally irrelevant to whether girls should serve on the altar today.
When, I agree, is immaterial. What is important is how. And that how is through specifically orchestrated acts of disobedience by radical feminist apostates.
Again, why belong to the Catholic Church if the concept of obedience is so deeply repugnant to you?
Explain to me why it's bad to have altar girls today.
I already have. It is an ongoing manifestation of disobedience and it ruins the natural mechanism of fostering vocations.
I'll be happy to entertain that type of argument.
Already submitted, and you didn't even address it - you simply dismissed it.
The presence of altar girls at my church this past has nothing to do with morality.
Only if you believe that obedience is a virtue. If you do not believe obedience is a virtue, then it isn't much use being a Catholic - it's best to make up one's own religion so one never needs to endure the horrible yoke of obedience.
It is not an immoral act and has nothing to do with situational ethics.
Yes it does. You have twice repeated the idea that it does not matter how a practice started - all that is important is its perceived usefulness "TODAY." If the motive of an act is irrelevant and all that matters is its utility in a current situation, we are in the realm of situational ethics.
You statement is incoherent.
An unintentionally amusing statement.
What is actually incoherent is claiming to be a Catholic and then simultaneously claiming that obedience is irrelevant, tradition is unimportant and that only what makes people happy from moment to moment counts.
There are many, many altar boys in my parish.
Good.
The presence of altar girls has actually increased the number of boys.
This is a phenomenon I have never witnessed.
A few years ago we had about 5 altar boys...now we have about 40 altar servers.
I'll take your word for it.