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rules that come to our Holy Father from a divine inspiration.

That's not quite correct, considering how many times thru history that the holy Father has apparently changed His mind about these rules. Vatican I, Vatican II and a host of other changes show me that either God is wishy-washy (no) or human beings are too flawed to fully grasp His true intentions (yes). We no longer abstain from meat every single Friday of the year...yet that's the 'rules' my parents grew up with. That's just one example. I'd say that these young men are in hopeful prep for the seminary.

I and about 20 others I know were altar boys and never (to my knowledge) gave priesthood a thought (none of us became priests). Being an altar boy was something to do during Mass, rather than sit in the congregation. Speaking personally, I always enjoyed it and was as reverent as I tried to be, but religion was something that was forced upon me, not something I willingly chose. For me, being an altar boy was an escape from the tedium of the Mass and a change of pace from the normal 'stand up/sit down' pace of the Mass. Keep in mind that those were my thoughts as an 8-11 year old boy who was forced to go to church every week. I hope to do a better job of raising my children, faith-wise, as having religion forced upon me by my parents only made me eventually turn away from a religion that answered very few of my questions...but that's an entirely different subject. For now, know that I see nothing wrong with altar girls!

Keep in mind that those were my thoughts as an 8-11 year old boy who was forced to go to church every week.

Used to be 8-11s were in the choir and older boys were altar servers, through their teens and into their early 20s, I guess. (Didn't exactly live through those times.)Then they could go right to seminary.

We no longer abstain from meat every single Friday of the year...yet that's the 'rules' my parents grew up with.

There is Church discipline and there is Church dogma. Apparently you were poorly catechized, like the rest of us. Now that you're an adult, you can educate yourself. There are plenty of resources at your fingertips these days.