Vatican may prohibit female alter (sic) service [Catholic Caucus]

ndsmcobserver.com ^ | October 14, 2003/Updated September 2012 | Amanda Michaels

[Salvation]

Vatican may prohibit female alter (sic) service

By Michaels, Amanda

Published: Tuesday, October 14, 2003

Updated: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 11:09

 

• Only nine years after the Vatican gave women permission to serve beside their male counterparts at the altar, a new proposal threatens to force them back into the crowd.

On Sept. 23, the Italian Catholic monthly, "Jesus," released advanced text of an article featuring excerpts from a draft document, or directive, written by the Vatican congregations for Divine Worship and the Sacraments and for the Doctrine of the Faith. Distributed on June 5, the document was an expansion on the papal encyclical published in April that cut down on abuses during Mass, specifically during Communion.

According to reports, in addition to banning applause and dancing at Mass - both of which often occur at papal services - the document specified that the use of female altar servers should be avoided "unless there is a just pastoral cause," and that "priests should never feel obliged to seek girls for this function."

However, both the Catholic News Service, the media extension of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) stated that the directive was almost immediately sent back for revisions.

"On June 29, the cardinals in charge of the two offices working on the document had a meeting and rejected it," said John Allen, Rome correspondent for the NCR. "The final version is expected by Christmas, and at least for now it says nothing on altar girls."

Though the news of the proposal's rejection is cause for much relief among female acolytes, the mere suggestion of restricting their use has stirred up controversy all over the United States and Western Europe, where the practice has become commonplace.

Since 1994, the USCCB has held that each individual bishop has the power to decide whether or not females within their diocese should be altar servers - a verdict based on the interpretation of 1983 Canon Law 230.2, said Sheila Garcia, USCCB Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth. To this date, very few dioceses across the country have prevented women from serving.

[MarkBsnr]

My daughter is an altar server at our parish. Most of the servers are female, as only a few boys volunteered. If this comes to pass, then c’est la vie. Our faith will accommodate the shifting ground.

My three eldest (daughter and two sons) who are eligible, serve. However, we are getting a new pastor next month (TLM qualified and fairly young) so that may change the game. Personally, I think that women should be excluded from serving at the altar, and that when the deacon is present at Mass, extraordinary ministers should not distribute the Blood.

It should be the two ordained who administer the distribution of the Eucharist.

Now, when the Communion rail is returned, along with the patens held by the servers, then I shall be excited.

[al_c]

You ought to see how many EMs are at our parish. It’s beyond ridiculous. 15 at every Mass distributing both elements of the Eucharist. I know Father is just trying to save time, but good grief! That’s an abuse, IMO.

[Straight Vermonter]

We always had ample numbers of boy serving at our parish. After the girls started serving the number of boys dropped dramatically. Less than half of the servers are boys now.

[Rich21IE]

Hasn’t come to ours; if it weren’t for the females, there would be a huge shortage of altar servers. Seems once they began to allow the use of the females, the males lost interest.

[Bigg Red]

No, it has not come to my diocese, but, unfortunately, ours is not very traditional.

[Bigg Red]

Ditto and ditto.

Also, when I receive Communion I avoid the line for the Extraordinary Minister. Fortunately, in my rather small parish, I am almost always able to sit on the side of the church that allows me to wind up in Father’s line.

[Bigg Red]

...only a few boys volunteered....

&&&
I am willing to bet that there would have been more boys interested if it was open to boys only.

[Bigg Red]

I agree with all you said. Good analysis.

In addition, Amanda, a 12-year-old girl is not a woman.

[Last Dakotan]

Most of the servers are female, as only a few boys volunteered.

My Cathedral parish has only allowed boys, on some Sundays so many boys were suiting up that the Rector had to put a limit on how many can serve.

Where you make something a uniquely male thing to do you get many more volunteers. The military is finding this out.

[arthurus]

My parish has tried to improvel situation by actively recruiting only boys. It doesn’t work. Altar service has been effectively redefined as “women’s work” and boys only serve as their parents make them do it. They quit at the earliest opportunity. That is the problem with women taking administrative positions in the church and “ministries.” Men look at these things now as “women’s work.” Religion is becoming what women do. That will be the hardest of the corruptions of the faux “spirit” of Vatican II to undo.

[Romulus]

Our parish has never had altar girls.

[Romulus]

With all respect, it is a bad experience for any person to be masquerading as someone of the opposite sex. Which is what altar girls do. I do not impugn their piety and desire for good, but they have been led badly astray.

[Salvation]

Great news and thanks to your clergy for obeying the GIRM rules that only call for acolytes.

[Salvation]

**I think the rise of girl altar servers and the decrease in vocations are related.**

I totally agree.

[Romulus]

I doubt the presence of girls is scaring away the boys.

I don't. The reformed liturgy has been feminized, and normal boys sense this even if they can't put it in words. They come to believe that "church" is a chick thing -- a hobby for pious girls and pathetic emasculated males wholly unreliable as masculine role models. If they continue to show up and participate, it's as passive outsiders. Female altar servers are a work of the devil. I mean that literally.

[Salvation]

Coaching a team is much different than saying a Mass.

Saying a Mass has reverence in it, the Blessed Sacrament in it.

Where is the real analogy?

[Salvation]

Great post. The heresy of modernism at work.

[Salvation]

I always ask boys about serving Mass. I never approach girls. I will not cause the girls to commit sin by disobeying the laws of the church.

[Straight Vermonter]

I am willing to bet that there would have been more boys interested if it was open to boys only.

I agree with that but I think it is also just part of the equation. When I was young it was a PRIVILEGE to be an altar boy.

I had a trial period and I was only accepted after I showed that I could do all of the prayers & responses and learn all of the tasks in serving the priests. I think when something is a challenge boys are more eager to be a part of it. If it is something anyone can do, why bother?

[Salvation]

I always thought there was only one Eucharistic Minister at Mass -- the priest.

Unfortunately, modernism has helped us to adopt this phrase. The actual title is Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. (EHMCs)