[Lorianne]

I don't think barring altar girls is a deciding factor, it is one more factor on the heap. There are other issues in the article which would discourage women's participation, such as women being lay ministers, etc. It's the aggregate of discouragement of women being active in some ministries which I think will become discouraging for many women.

Also, I think the rulings would enforce very ethnocentric ideas of participation. I attended Catholic services in Africa and they were quite lively to say the least ... and culturally appropriate (IMO). I wonder what these people will think of their cultural expressions being banned in Mass, or even on church property?

I don't know the answer, I simply find it interesting to contemplate why the Church would be taking such positions.

[nickcarraway]

Well, I guess it depends on what you mean by ``lay minister.'' Many women function in roles that could be more or less described as such. I guess it depends on how you define ``minister.'' [and by the way, in most parishes and diocese most of the staff are female- you can check this yourself. Often, the only male/males are the actual priests] There are actually very few roles that women are restricted from.