Altar Servers

[cvjacinto948]

If a Priest doesn’t want to have girl altar servers, but the bishop allows it does the priest have to obey the bishop in those matters or can he go on as tradition and keep it to altar boys only for his Parish?

If i could get a priest’s opinion that would be much preferred Thank you

 

[IesumPerMariam]

You don’t need a priest’s opinion: The Congregation for Divine Worship has already clarified that a priest cannot be forced to use girl altar boys when he celebrates Mass.

Litterae Congregationis

Letter of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

On possible admission of girls, adult women and women religious to serve alongside boys as servers in the Liturgy

Prot. No. 2451/00/L

July 27, 2001

Your Excellency,

Further to recent correspondence, this Congregation resolved to undertake a renewed study of the questions concerning the possible admission of girls, adult women and women religious to serve alongside boys as servers in the Liturgy.

As part of this examination, the Dicastery consulted the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts which replied with a letter of July 23, 2001. The reply of the Pontifical Council was helpful in reaffirming that the questions raised by this Congregation, including the question of whether particular legislation could oblige individual priests in their celebration of the Holy Mass to make use of women to serve at the altar, do not concern the interpretation of the law, but rather are questions of the correct application of the law. The reply of the aforementioned Pontifical Council, therefore, confirms the understanding of this Dicastery that the matter falls within the competence of this Congregation as delineated by the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, § 62. Bearing in mind this authoritative response, this Dicastery, having resolved outstanding questions, was able to conclude its own study. At the present time, therefore, the Congregation would wish to make the following observations.

As is clear from the Responsio ad propositum dubium concerning can. 230, § 2, and its authentic interpretation (cf. Circular Letter to the Presidents of Episcopal Conferences, Prot. n. 2482/93 March 15, 1994, see Notitiae 30 [1994] 333-335), the Diocesan Bishop, in his role as moderator of the liturgical life in the diocese entrusted to his care, has the authority to permit service at the altar by women within the boundaries of the territory entrusted to his care. Moreover his liberty in this question cannot be conditioned by claims in favor of a uniformity between his diocese and other dioceses which would logically lead to the removal of the necessary freedom of action from the individual Diocesan Bishop. Rather, after having heard the opinion of the Episcopal Conference, he is to base his prudential judgment upon what he considers to accord more closely with the local pastoral need for an ordered development of the liturgical life in the diocese entrusted to his care, bearing in mind, among other things, the sensibilities of the faithful, the reasons which would motivate such a permission, and the different liturgical settings and congregations which gather for the Holy Mass (cf. Circular Letter to the Presidents of Episcopal Conferences, March 15, 1994, no. 1).

In accord with the above cited instructions of the Holy See such an authorization may not, in any way, exclude men or, in particular, boys from service at the altar, nor require that priests of the diocese would make use of female altar servers, since “it will always be very appropriate to follow the noble tradition of having boys serve at the altar” (Circular Letter to the Presidents of Episcopal Conference, March 15, 1994, no. 2). Indeed, the obligation to support groups of altar boys will always remain, not least of all due to the well known assistance that such programs have provided since time immemorial in encouraging future priestly vocations (cf. ibid.)

With respect to whether the practice of women serving at the altar would truly be of pastoral advantage in the local pastoral situation, it is perhaps helpful to recall that the non-ordained faithful do not have a right to service at the altar, rather they are capable of being admitted to such service by the Sacred Pastors (cf. Circular Letter to the Presidents of Episcopal Conferences, March 15, 1994, no. 4, cf. also can 228, §1, Interdicasterial Instruction Ecclesiae de mysterio, August 15, 1997, no. 4, see Notitiae 34 [1998] 9-42). Therefore, in the event that Your Excellency found it opportune to authorize service of women at the altar, it would remain important to explain clearly to the faithful the nature of this innovation, lest confusion might be introduced, thereby hampering the development of priestly vocations.

Having thus confirmed and further clarified the contents of its previous response to Your Excellency, this Dicastery wishes to assure you of its gratitude for the opportunity to elaborate further upon this question and that it considers this present letter to be normative.

With every good wish and kind regard, I am, Sincerely yours in Christ,

Jorge A. Card. Medina Estévez
Prefect

Mons. Mario Marini
Under Secretary

 

[YoungTradCath]

Ultimately, it is always up to the priest celebrant.

 

[Chatter163]

If a Priest doesn’t want to have girl altar servers, but the bishop allows it does the priest have to obey the bishop in those matters or can he go on as tradition and keep it to altar boys only for his Parish?

If i could get a priest’s opinion that would be much preferred Thank you

A bishop “allowing” altar girls does not mean that a priest who chooses not to have them is is not “obeying” the bishop. (That is an odd choice of words there…)

 

[Mike30]

As far as I know it is completely up to the Priest involved. While the Bishop may allow the practice the Priests cannot be compelled to use them.

That is my understanding at least.

 

[PJM]

=cvjacinto948;10472312]If a Priest doesn’t want to have girl altar servers, but the bishop allows it does the priest have to obey the bishop in those matters or can he go on as tradition and keep it to altar boys only for his Parish?

If i could get a priest’s opinion that would be much preferred Thank you

The priest normally can decide for himself unless specifically ORDERED to do otherwise.

 

[IesumPerMariam]

The priest normally can decide for himself unless specifically ORDERED to do otherwise.

According to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, no one can ever “ORDER” a priest to use a girl altar boy. Cf. the letter responding to a dubium included in post #2 on this thread.

In accord with the above cited instructions of the Holy See such an authorization may not, in any way, exclude men or, in particular, boys from service at the altar, nor require that priests of the diocese would make use of female altar servers…

And this is to be considered the universal norm for the Latin Church, according to the Holy See, cf. the closing of said letter.

Having thus confirmed and further clarified the contents of its previous response to Your Excellency, this Dicastery wishes to assure you of its gratitude for the opportunity to elaborate further upon this question and that it considers this present letter to be normative.

The Holy See has spoken, it is not up for debate.

 

[PJM]

Thanks!

 

[Mrs_Sally]

This is the case in my diocese. In the recent past our bishop has allowed female altar servers; however, in my parish our priests only allow boys. We have 100+ altar boys - usually 4-6 per Mass (and 2 per daily Mass, even at 6am).