Can altar servers be made to offer the sign of peace?

[constance7008]

I have read the older threads about the inappropriateness of the priest going up and down the aisles for the sign of peace. Ours not only does this, but has the altar servers go as well. Some of them asked not to do it, as sometimes people turn away or even scowl at them. Father replied that if they want to be servers, it’s a requirement. Now half of our servers have quit but Father is adamant.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Father has no authority to require the altar servers to do any liturgical gesture that is not specifically spelled out for them to do in the authorized rubrics of the Mass. It is especially out of line for him to make an unauthorized liturgical action a requirement of being an altar server, especially when he knows that the congregation is taking out their frustration on the altar servers by scowling and turning away. (It is not especially kind of the congregation to do this to children who have no choice in the matter, but that is another issue.)

I can only recommend that the parents of all servers in the altar server program—both of those presently serving and of those who felt compelled to quit—make an appointment with the bishop of the diocese and ask for the bishop’s intervention with Father.