Altar Girls, Altar Boys and the Priesthood: Connecting the Dots (Catholic Caucus)

onepeterfive ^ | January 2, 2015 | BRIAN WILLIAMS

[NYer]

Is this a change since Hubbard left?

Apologies, I was referring to the Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn, not the Diocese of Albany. Bishop Mansour only allows boys to serve at the altar. Not sure about Bishop Scharfenberger.

[SevenofNine]

Also at local childhood church both boys and girl served I notice that priests don’t ask don’t tell policy

I think reason why according to my mom we have real Feminist Yenta lawyer lady that threated to sue the priest got spook by this lady

[Salvation]

I sent this to friends, priests in the local area and the Bishop.

[SevenofNine]

Well I live in kinda lib city Los Angeles you know arhcidisove is famous for hiding pedophile priest by shipping to other parish thanks to Telfon Archbishop Roger Mahoney

You got cut my city some slack here LOL!

[ebb tide]

>>[T]his practice of placing girls at the altar has absolutely nothing to do with Vatican II and was condemned in the strongest of terms twice following the council. In 1970 Pope Paul VI said in Liturgicae Instaurationes, “In conformity with norms traditional in the Church, women (single, married, religious), whether in churches, homes, convents, schools, or institutions for women, are barred from serving the priest at the altar.” [Paul VI, ladies and gents.]<<

>>And in 1980 Pope John Paul II stated in Inaestimabile Donum, “There are, of course, various roles that women can perform in the liturgical assembly: these include reading of the Word of God and proclaiming the intentions of the Prayer of the Faithful. Women are not, however, permitted to act as altar servers.”[JP2, ladies and gents.]<,

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/08/should-the-infamous-altar-girl-decision-be-reversed-wm-oddie-opines-wdtprs-polls-included/

Unfortunately, under pressure, the indecisive St JP II reversed himself in 1994.

[BlatherNaut]

Funny, this Protestant, has probably always seen altar boys as the ‘recruiting ground’ for future priests.

Unfortunately, homo priests have also seen altar boys as "recruiting ground", which is part of the reason fewer boys volunteer these days. Self-defense training should be a prerequisite before parents allow their sons to serve.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

Boys and men will volunteer less at a place of worship where females are given the same roles as men and wanting to dominate. That’s just the way it seems to be. Males need a special role more than females do. Let the boys do it, but also put full time videocameras everywhere in and around the church where the boys will be, before, during and after the services.

[kearnyirish2]

I thought the last US diocese to have boys only was in Nebraska (and they switched when their bishop retired).

The first point (that it was up to the individual bishops) showed what a stupid idea this was; the PC pressure on every ordinary was intense.

[NYer]

I thought the last US diocese to have boys only was in Nebraska

I posted a clarification on #21. " I was referring to the Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn, not the Diocese of Albany. Bishop Mansour only allows boys to serve at the altar." Though I am Roman Catholic, I practice my faith at a Maronite (Eastern) Catholic Church. Nearly half the congregation is Roman Catholic.

[kearnyirish2]

I didn’t know that allowing altar girls even applied to the Eastern Churches; do any of them allow altar girls?

[NYer]

I didn’t know that allowing altar girls even applied to the Eastern Churches; do any of them allow altar girls?

I can only speak for the our particular eparchy (diocese). The bishop has banned girls from serving at the altar because vocations come from the boys.

[marine86297]

"No lay person has the right to serve at the altar for Mass or any other liturgical worship."
We have a 50+ year old man that serves as an alter boy frequently in our parish. Quite an odd fellow as well. I don't understand why the pastor allows it but our bishop is a spineless liberal, so that may explain it. We still stand after communion which has been expressly prohibited and no longer have any Tridentine masses in our diocese.

[trisham]

As it should be.

[NYer]

Just a suggestion but have you considered visiting an Eastern Catholic Church? St Athanasius Byzantine Church is in Indianapolis. You can read more about this Catholic Rite here. Redhead is Roman Catholic and attends a Byzantine Church. You will discover these liturgies are profoundly reverent.

[redhead]

Our Byzantine parish has MEN serving. The youngest server is about 14. The girls have their own ministry: They are the ones who hold the 3-branched candlestick during the reading of the Gospel.

It’s a tiny church building, and a procession of men takes up a lot of space, but it is worth it when we witness the GROWTH of our parish and the enthusiasm and involvement of our members. We even have an outreach in Ft. Collins.

[kearnyirish2]

Thanks; I don’t know if the ruling even applied to the Eastern Rites (with their variation on celibacy, etc.).

[marine86297]

I would love to try attending an Eastern Rite Mass but most are several hours away at best. I do manage to go to a Tridentine mass about an hour away, in a different diocese at least once a month. I would really LOVE to find a Maronite church to experience.