[wideawake]

The reasoning is twofold:

(1) The introduction of altar girls began as an act of disobedience.

(2) Traditionally, the acolytate is the early training ground for priests. The introduction of girls, who cannot be priests, interferes with recruitment for the priestly ministry.

[Benrand]

I just find it ODD that there are girls doing the job of altar boys. It is part of the hippy dippy stuff that started in when I was in Cath grade school in the late 70's...kumbaya and all that, the holding hands.

The thing that got me really incensed was a younger priest, right after 911, going on about how we essentially deserved it, the Golden Calf and so forth. I am not a Bible scholar so I'm not sure what chapter and verse, but to choose that as the basis of your homily was offensive. There is a certain leftism in the Church, IMO. The Church helps many but there is too much lefty self-sacrifice for my tastes.

[aruanan]

Thanks for a cogent, straightforward response.

[Cousin Eddie]

Neither of these "reasons" hold water (and pardon the multiple puns). Yes, these excuses are spouted out by many, but so what?

1. Whether it started out as act of disobedience or not is neither here nor there. Rosa Parks refusing to move to the back of the bus was an act of disobedience, and thank God for that. The origins of the practice have nothing to do with whether it is right or wrong TODAY.

2. This practice does not interfere with recruitment to the priesthood. Boys can still be altar boys, and if it influences them to become priests, then great. Whether or not there is a girl standing next to a 10 - 14 year old boy (the age of altar servers) during the mass is not going to affect a young man's decision to enter the priesthood when he is 18 - 20.

[disclaimer]

The reasoning is twofold:
(1) The introduction of altar girls began as an act of disobedience.
(2) Traditionally, the acolytate is the early training ground for priests. The introduction of girls, who cannot be priests, interferes with recruitment for the priestly ministry.

100% right on wideawake. The feminists have been attacking the Catholic church for some time now. In addition to the alter girl invasion, the language has been under attack for as well. References to 'Him' have been replaced with 'God' in the hymns, and the word 'mankind' is now 'people' as just a few examples. That rascally union of world-wide womyn (UWWW) never miss an opportunity to spread their religion.

[ellery]

Got it -- thanks for the info!

[Dusty Rose]

Traditionally, the acolytate is the early training ground for priests. The introduction of girls, who cannot be priests, interferes with recruitment for the priestly ministry.

Exactly what does the altar server do? From what I can tell, the young boy or girl processes in and out with the priest, holds the book for the priest to read prayers, sometimes holds the waterbowl and towel for the washing of hands. If men feel inhibited from responding to the call to the priesthood because of the presence of an altar server who is a girl, he certainly does not have a strong vocation to begin with.

Our daughters had no interest in becoming altar servers, but they have helped take up the collection and handed out bulletins after Mass.Any objections to this?

[Final Authority]

Traditionally, the acolyte is the early training ground for priests. The introduction of girls, who cannot be priests, interferes with recruitment for the priestly ministry.

In our parish, there is a sense that the Priest is homosexual and parents keep their pre-teens (boys) away from them. It is indeed sad but in light of all the abuse by Priests we either do this or attend another church altogether. Boys are very aware of the situation as well and shy away. It is sad, the church is dying because of mistrust of Bishops McCormack and Christian.