[Loyalist]

I never could understand why the idea of altar girls flew... didn't this used to be the first step in the recruitment of boys for the priesthood?

Precisely. Satan's master stroke; sissify altar service in a seven year old boy's mind and he will grow up with the perception of the priesthood and the sacrifice of the Altar as something for sissies.

I had the misfortune to grow up in a parish were altar girls were well and truly entrenched when I was of age to begin serving at the altar (circa 1982.)

Had it not been for altar girls, I might have been an altar boy. I couldn't have articulated my feelings more coherently than 'cooties', but even then, I knew something was wrong about altar girls.

I regret little about my childhood, but to this day I regret not having served on the altar.

[american colleen]

Yes, my son doesn't have any interest in being an altar boy either. In a way, it's sadly, no big deal. They've reduced the duties of an altar PERSON to donning a white bathrobe tied with a rope and the person holds the book and then the candles while the gospel is being read. Half the kids don't kneel and about 99.9% of 'em wear jeans and sneakers. If my kid was an altar boy I'd have him dressed respectfully and sadly, I think the other kids would make fun of him.