Female Altar Servers? How has this 11 year experiment gone?

[David_B]

What fruits has the opening of the ranks of altar servers to females produced? Has there been an increasing feeling of equality for young girls due to this? Does it help show that all ministries of the church that don’t require ordination to the sacrament of Holy Orders are open to all?

I can see how it would seem to make sense to have female altar servers…we already had females acting as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, so it seems ringing the bells at the consecration really is a much more minor office than touching the Blessed Sacrament with one’s hands and distributing it to the people.

 

[Kielbasi]

It gets young ladies involved in the liturgy.

Some of them may be discerning a calling to be a lector or eucharistic minister of Holy Communion, and service at the altar is a first step.

 

[MrS]

The use of female servers began as an abuse… period.;

After some time, bishops decided to make it a norm, and it is only that today.

They are acceptable today (as even the late bishop of Rome said), but are still unnecessary, and will be eliminated by Benedict XVI.

The male servers often use this period of serving to better understand the Mass, the functions of a priest, and to enjoy the privilege and the responsibility of entering the sanctuary.

Hopefully the Lectors will be properly called Readers, and all female funtions in the sanctuary will cease. Those who will be most upset are those who think they are being treated as inferior, and those who are priests wannabes.

 

[David_B]

MrS:

They are acceptable today (as even the late bishop of Rome said), but are still unnecessary, and will be eliminated by Benedict XVI.

Could you please tell me how you found out that Pope Benedict is going to eliminate girls serving the altar?

 

[Kielbasi]

The male servers often use this period of serving to better understand the Mass, the functions of a priest, and to enjoy the privilege and the responsibility of entering the sanctuary.

Women as well should have an appreciation of those responsibilities and privileges.

Not in the role of a priest of course, but the EMHC and altar server roles provide an opportunity they would otherwise be denied.

In addition, banning women from those roles, as you suggest, would require a huge effort to replace them, which would be quite difficult in light of the current sex abuse crisis. A large number of Catholic parents would have a real difficulty with allowing their young boys close contact with the priests without their supervision, yet many parents don’t have the time available to attend all of the altar training sessions.

 

[rcn]

I think the .001% of people that this bothered initially, are still bothered.

The other 99.999% didn’t care then, and don’t care now.

 

[MrS]

David B:

Could you please tell me how you found out that Pope Benedict is going to eliminate girls serving the altar?

Father Fessio did a detailed commentary on the Pope’s first homily and the desire he had to return to correct practices in the liturgy before the end of the Eucharistic Year. You can find it in the lastest Catholic World Report.

If he is able to do a complete re-teaching in this time frame, it would include the areas of girl altar boys, lectors/readers, overuse of EMHC, and perhaps a better understanding of the male priesthood.

 

[ncjohn]

I see no problem with it at all. I trained several girls when I was in charge of that function in our church, and found them as attentive, appreciative, and reverent as the boys. I did not find any to be “priest wannabe’s” and had a couple that moved on to being Lectors and catechists.

Any legitimate outlet that allows people–men or women–to participate, learn, and further their journey is a good thing in my mind.

Peace,
John

 

[mjdonnelly]

I prefer male altar servers, but parents today are more interested in having their sons playing sports or some other activity than being an altar server. They don’t want to be bothered with at least dropping their son off at the chruch.

My daughter and her friend are both altar servers, the friend wouldn’t be if it were not for us. Consequently, she goes to mass on a regular basis now.

I plan on having my son be an altar server wether he wants to or not.

I’m always telling them that if Jesus could have nails hammered through his hands and feet, they can go through the discomfort of kneeling properly, being up near the altar under the hot lights and wearing the robes in 90F weather. (there is no A/C at our church). A little sacrifice now will pay off later.

 

[MrS]

Kielbasi:

Women as well should have an appreciation of those responsibilities and privileges.

Not in the role of a priest of course, but the EMHC and altar server roles provide an opportunity they would otherwise be denied.

In addition, banning women from those roles, as you suggest, would require a huge effort to replace them, which would be quite difficult in light of the current sex abuse crisis. A large number of Catholic parents would have a real difficulty with allowing their young boys close contact with the priests without their supervision, yet many parents don’t have the time available to attend all of the altar training sessions.

Women can attain an appreciation of lots of things without having to do them.

What opportunity are women denied if they can’t serve as altar boys, or EMHC???

There we go… let’s blame the sex abuse crisis… get girls on the altar so the priests won’t fondle them. And after all, parents don’t have time…

One thousand weak or evil priests over the last 50 years in a country that has nearly 50,000 active priests serving today. 2% compared to numbers as high as 11% in the married protestant minister circles.

By the way… in a local parish of less than 450 families, there are 65 MALE altar servers… no girls (anymore)… thanks to the principle efforts of ONE mom… who made the time, and trusted the priests.

 

[Purificator]

Kielbasi:

Women as well should have an appreciation of those responsibilities and privileges.

Not in the role of a priest of course, but the EMHC and altar server roles provide an opportunity they would otherwise be denied.

In addition, banning women from those roles, as you suggest, would require a huge effort to replace them, which would be quite difficult in light of the current sex abuse crisis. A large number of Catholic parents would have a real difficulty with allowing their young boys close contact with the priests without their supervision, yet many parents don’t have the time available to attend all of the altar training sessions.

Your posting is offensive. Do you honestly believe anyone would place their daughters in close proximity to a priest that could not be trusted around young boys? You gotta be kidding!

First, it wouldn’t be that big of a project to recruit and train more male altar servers, for those parishes that actually wished to comply with any forthcoming change.

Second, most of the training is done by laypersons, not priests.

Third, if there are priests still practicing in parishes where parents have a “real difficulty with allowing their young boys close contact with the priests without their supervision” then placing young girls/women in their place is certainly no solution! It’s chilling that some would think it is.

My diocese has a strict policy – no adult ordinary or lay minister may be in a closed space with a minor without another adult present – and that includes adult females and yourng girls.

 

[Purificator]

MrS:

Women can attain an appreciation of lots of things without having to do them.

What opportunity are women denied if they can’t serve as altar boys, or EMHC???

There we go… let’s blame the sex abuse crisis… get girls on the altar so the priests won’t fondle them. And after all, parents don’t have time…

One thousand weak or evil priests over the last 50 years in a country that has nearly 50,000 active priests serving today. 2% compared to numbers as high as 11% in the married protestant minister circles.

By the way… in a local parish of less than 450 families, there are 65 MALE altar servers… no girls (anymore)…** thanks to the principle efforts of ONE mom… who made the time, and trusted the priests**.

Bravo.

 

[Kielbasi]

One thousand weak or evil priests over the last 50 years in a country that has nearly 50,000 active priests serving today. 2% compared to numbers as high as 11% in the married protestant minister circles.

You’re absolutely right that actual sex abuse isn’t nearly as high as the media would indicate.

But parents still hear the news reports and are still quite concerned as anyone would expect.

Women can attain an appreciation of lots of things without having to do them.

So can men. But that doesn’t exclude males from altar service or other roles nor should it.

You’re making an assumption that its impirically better for young men to be altar servers, I don’t think so, as either sex can fulfill the role equally well.

 

[MrS]

Kielbasi:

You’re making an assumption that its impirically better for young men to be altar servers, I don’t think so, as either sex can fulfill the role equally well.

Perhaps that is the area of disagreement. Can you explain what you think is the role of, or the purpose of, or the reason for originally having only young men serve, and now having young ladies enter the sanctuary.

 

[mjdonnelly]

Kielbasi:

You’re making an assumption that its impirically better for young men to be altar servers, I don’t think so, as either sex can fulfill the role equally well.

Being an altar server was suppose to be an introduction to being a priest, kind of like how a squire was to a knight.

 

[Island_Oak]

Given all the alternative activities out there for adolescent girls to engage in, I can think of none that would rival the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the mass in a reverant, poised and attentive manner. Kids at this age are “doers” and the ability to participate is far more influential and engaging than merely attending mass. I agree with other posters who see this as encouraging later participation as lectors, EMCs, and the like. Since women, at present, have absolutely no opportunity to become priests, I hardly see why anyone would object or feel threatened by their participation in altar service any more than they would as lectors.

 

[MrS]

Island Oak:

Given all the alternative activities out there for adolescent girls to engage in, I can think of none that would rival the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the mass in a reverant, poised and attentive manner. Kids at this age are “doers” and the ability to participate is far more influential and engaging than merely attending mass. I agree with other posters who see this as encouraging later participation as lectors, EMCs, and the like. Since women, at present, have absolutely no opportunity to become priests, I hardly see why anyone would object or feel threatened by their participation in altar service any more than they would as lectors.

This would have been a good post until you gave yourself away. It seems you have some hope that someday… but for now just let the girls do something harmless. No one is threatened…

That is the real agenda behind all the abuses becoming norms.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

Island Oak:

Given all the alternative activities out there for adolescent girls to engage in, I can think of none that would rival the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the mass in a reverant, poised and attentive manner. Kids at this age are “doers” and the ability to participate is far more influential and engaging than merely attending mass. I agree with other posters who see this as encouraging later participation as lectors, EMCs, and the like. Since women, at present, have absolutely no opportunity to become priests, I hardly see why anyone would object or feel threatened by their participation in altar service any more than they would as lectors.

The notion of participation, while on one level very true, is on another level undermining a maturation of faith and participation in the liturgy. While altar servers, EMsHC, etc. have more “functions” at Mass than the rest of the congregation, they do not participate any more fully. The worship offered at Mass, even in the “active participation of silence” as John Paul II put it, is a fuller participation than any “doing” will ever be. But that’s not the message we send to our children and neighbors when we talk about certain ministries as “chances to participate.”

 

[MrS]

Andreas Hofer:

The notion of participation, while on one level very true, is on another level undermining a maturation of faith and participation in the liturgy. While altar servers, EMsHC, etc. have more “functions” at Mass than the rest of the congregation, they do not participate any more fully. The worship offered at Mass, even in the “active participation of silence” as John Paul II put it, is a fuller participation than any “doing” will ever be. But that’s not the message we send to our children and neighbors when we talk about certain ministries as “chances to participate.”

God Bless you for your heavy dose of common sense and reality, added to a large dose of truth.

 

[Catholic2003]

It’s been a 22 year experiment, since female altar servers were permitted by the promulgation of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.