Girl Altar Servers?

[katherine2]

netmil(name removed by moderator):

What is wrong with making boys special?

The purpose of altar servers is not to allow one gender to feel special.

At that age, what’s wrong with a Fraternity atmosphere?.

keg parties and lewd jokes whiel watching football?

 

[jlw]

netmil(name removed by moderator):

What is wrong with making boys special? Why does everything have to be feminized?

It seems that the people here that are for Female Servers are thinking of the feelings of the girls but not the feelings of the boys. At that age, what’s wrong with a Fraternity atmosphere?

No boy will ever experience the miracle of giving birth. For goodness sake, let them have something special, all their own.

Well said!!

 

[katherine2]

netmil(name removed by moderator):

I’ll take that as you cannot find any facts to back your point.

No, the facts totally back my point. The false claims have been proven false. The integrity of at least one opponent of women altar servers is now proven to be questionable.

 

[Catholic2003]

fix:

If the use of female servers started in a very straight forward way, then why was there a need many years later for the Vatican to clarify the issue?

There was a very small but very vocal minority who thought that female altar servers were not permitted; the Vatican’s authentic interpretation proved them wrong.

 

[Catholic2003]

jlw:

As if girls and boys are “in charge” of themselves.

Boys and girls old enough to be altar servers are in charge of whether they accept responsibility for their actions (and omissions), or whether they try to place the blame on others. At least that’s what I teach my daughter.

 

[CARose]

My understanding of the Vatican position regarding Girls acting as Altar Servers is that while licit, it is not necessarily the best situation. However, it is not outside the range of that which is permissible and it is therefore up to the local Parish Priest (unless his Bishop decides otherwise) to determine who should serve on his altar.

Our Bishop has stated that female altar servers are to be permitted in all parishes within our diocese, from what I’ve heard. I am not privy to all Bishop communications, so I may be wrong on this, but I’m fairly certain of my source (not our Pastor), but he works closely with the Bishop.

I accept that there are reasons for retaining an all male Altar Service environment. But again, if service is needed, and we are called forward, where were you when help was needed. Step up, start training new altar servers, assist in creating the schedule for your parish, call the dads. How many of the dads are active in their local parish, how many dads get called to include their sons in Church activities, and get this call from another Male? It’s time.

Please, stop complaining, help create the environment you so wonderfully desire. Talk to your pastor in Charity. Help him to trust that you will handle this situation with restraint and Charity. If you slowly fase out the girls in your parish by bringing in so many boys that the schedule is overly full, who can complain. Then slowly have extra-curricular activities that are boy focused.

But please, stop blaming the girls for being there when they are needed.

CARose

 

[jlw]

Catholic2003:

Boys and girls old enough to be altar servers are in charge of whether they accept responsibility for their actions (and omissions), or whether they try to place the blame on others. At least that’s what I teach my daughter.

And your daughter is in good hands!

My point was that boys who “don’t feel like it” aren’t being held up by their parents and calling them forth to service. It’s not so much about “feeling good” as it is about “doing good”. The modern parent (yes, a broad sweeping claim, but allow me) has failed their kids by not expecting higher standards of accomplishment or service.

 

[CARose]

jlw:

And your daughter is in good hands!

My point was that boys who “don’t feel like it” aren’t being held up by their parents and calling them forth to service. It’s not so much about “feeling good” as it is about “doing good”. The modern parent (yes, a broad sweeping claim, but allow me) has failed their kids by not expecting higher standards of accomplishment or service.

Amen!

 

[fix]

Catholic2003:

There was a very small but very vocal minority who thought that female altar servers were not permitted; the Vatican’s authentic interpretation proved them wrong.

The same may be said of those who started to use female servers.

 

[Catholic2003]

fix:

The same may be said of those who started to use female servers.

How so? By 1985, the vast majority of canon lawyers agreed that female altar servers were allowed. In 1990 (before the 1992 authentic interpretation), the conservative The Canon Law: Letter & Spirit commentary stated the same thing.

Being in a large majority that was eventually proven correct is quite different than being in a small minority that was eventually proven wrong.

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

CARose, ever thought about being a deacon?

Deacon Tony

 

[katherine2]

Catholic2003:

How so? By 1985, the vast majority of canon lawyers agreed that female altar servers were allowed. In 1990 (before the 1992 authentic interpretation), the conservative The Canon Law: Letter & Spirit commentary stated the same thing.

Being in a large majority that was eventually proven correct is quite different than being in a small minority that was eventually proven wrong.

true. and even one or two early birds doesn’t make a case for withdrawing pastoral discretion for the many who adopted this practice when it was perfectly licit. It would be like expelling millions of people from the state of Oklahoma because there were a few Sooners.

 

[fix]

katherine2:

true. and even one or two early birds doesn’t make a case for withdrawing pastoral discretion for the many who adopted this practice when it was perfectly licit. It would be like expelling millions of people from the state of Oklahoma because there were a few Sooners.

So you admit a few took a private initiative, foisted it on the many and the Vatican allowed it years later.

 

[netmilsmom]

katherine2:

The purpose of altar servers is not to allow one gender to feel special.

keg parties and lewd jokes whiel watching football?

Dictionaries are our friends…
fra·ter·ni·ty (frə-tûr’nĭ-tē) pronunciation
n., pl. -ties.

1. A body of people associated for a common purpose or interest, such as a guild.
2. A group of people joined by similar backgrounds, occupations, interests, or tastes: the fraternity of bird watchers.
3. A chiefly social organization of men students at a college or university, usually designated by Greek letters.
4. Roman Catholic Church. A sodality.
5. The quality or condition of being brothers; brotherliness.

 

[netmilsmom]

katherine2:

No, the facts totally back my point. The false claims have been proven false. The integrity of at least one opponent of women altar servers is now proven to be questionable.

How wonderfully Christian of you!

I posted an article, you disagreed with it, you gave no reference to facts that showed it was wrong and then suggest that I have a lack of integrity. Hmmmm.

 

[serendipity]

jlw:

The problem with boys not wanting to be altar servers may be due to boys not being excited about flatening their growing masculine nature by wearing long white robes with girls, no less. A male-only service group (heterosexual, thank you!) has a specialness (is that a word?) to it that makes it inviting to any male, young or old.

BUT it is ALSO at the feet of parents who do apparently do not encourage or expect that their sons, as fathful Catholics do their duty, and serve the priest at Mass. Could it be that over the last few decades, the focus has shifted from the importance of the sacred altar to that of hand-holding in the pews??

I dont’ think girls being on the altar has much to do with boys not wanting to serve. It’s ludicrous. The fact is that being at church does not feel like a celebration or anything that most kids want to participate in. Many have to be forced to attend kicking and screeming. The last think they want to do is getup on the altar and be coser to the priest, who in my churhc has never made any effort to even look at any of the kids he shepherds. They detest him. This was my brother’s perspective; work with him why on earth when it means even more time there and he is a jerk. Having five sisters being with girls was not an issue. Hardly any one he goes to school with attend our church, so it is not a quesiton of fearing to be seen next to girls. Hardly any kids are there. Not becuase of birth control, which amy be why there are not many famileis there with six kids. But becuase their families leave for churches that have pastors that understand their needs and offer guidance for their life.

And there seems to be little for kids at mass. Most are not cathechized properly to appreciate the mystery and importance of it all. Most adults don’t even have those benefits. I would bet that churhces with great relgiious formation programs; those that have an apoproach that considers ministry to the youth more than an hour of ccd once a week has less of an issue with recruiting kids to serve on the altar.

Form a kid’s perspective, not fully comprehendin what goes on at mass, what joy will they derive from being closer to some old man who barely knows the needs of his parish, let alone have any connection to or ability to express himself in a homly that will appeal to the entire congregation. Abortion, abortion abortion…yeah, real helpful for kids. Not that this is not an improtant isuse. It is, but the Catholic family life has many issues that people need guidance on and many lessons it can and should be teaching. Like what goes on at mass…could we talk about that in homily once in a while to help us understand why we are here, other than becuase it is a sin not to be here.

 

[davy39]

We’ve been all through this on another thread. I have no problem with girl altar servers, and I don’t think you can blame them for the lack of vocations. I believe smaller families, the breakup up homes by divorce, and of course the sex abuse scandels are to blame for a lot of it. We need to keep praying for vocations, especially here in the Toledo diocese. We had one priest ordained in 2004.

 

[Sean.McKenzie]

netmil(name removed by moderator):

Dictionaries are our friends…
fra·ter·ni·ty (frə-tûr’nĭ-tē) pronunciation
n., pl. -ties.

1. A body of people associated for a common purpose or interest, such as a guild.
2. A group of people joined by similar backgrounds, occupations, interests, or tastes: the fraternity of bird watchers.
3. A chiefly social organization of men students at a college or university, usually designated by Greek letters.
4. Roman Catholic Church. A sodality.
5. The quality or condition of being brothers; brotherliness.

The word “fraternity” comes from the Middle English word ‘fraternity’ which derives from Medieval Latin ‘fraternalis’ which came from the Latin word ‘fraternus’ (brotherly) and ‘frater’ (BROTHER). Webster’s New World Dictionary defines it as:

 *	1. the state or quality of being brothers; fraternal relationship or spirit; brotherliness

1. a group of men (or, rarely, women) joined together by common interests, for fellowship, etc.; specif., a Greek-letter college organization
   1. a group of people with the same beliefs, interests, work, etc. [the medical ‘fraternity’]*

 

[Sean.McKenzie]

netmil(name removed by moderator):

Dictionaries are our friends…
fra·ter·ni·ty (frə-tûr’nĭ-tē) pronunciation
n., pl. -ties.

 1. A body of people associated for a common purpose or interest, such as a guild.
 2. A group of people joined by similar backgrounds, occupations, interests, or tastes: the fraternity of bird watchers.
 3. A chiefly social organization of men students at a college or university, usually designated by Greek letters.
 4. Roman Catholic Church. A sodality.
 5. The quality or condition of being brothers; brotherliness.

The word “fraternity” comes from the Middle English word ‘fraternity’ which derives from Medieval Latin ‘fraternalis’ which came from the Latin word ‘fraternus’ (brotherly) and ‘frater’ (BROTHER). Webster’s New World Dictionary defines it as:

*    1. the state or quality of being **brothers***; fraternal relationship or spirit; brotherliness

1. a group of **men **(or, rarely, women) joined together by common interests, for fellowship, etc.; specif., a Greek-letter college organization
   3. a group of people with the same beliefs, interests, work, etc. [the medical ‘fraternity’]

 

[Mothers_Boy]

Boy, what a thread. Name calling and anger, all Christian virtues. As the father of a daughter who served on the Altar, I didn’t say assist as so many have because we all assist with our participation, I told her that she was serving God and she took that seriously. When I moved to a parish that uses only boys I explained that while the Church allowed girls to serve our Pastor only allows boys and that it has helped vocations to the Priesthood. She has understood that there is a reason and accepted it. She is still at Mass and receiving the Sacraments. She also asks questions that suggest to me she is trying to find her place in the Church.
Our parish has 6 or 8 young men in the seminary and I believe this is partly due to only males serving on the altar. I think that some of the other reasons boys don’t serve is they are not encouraged. Luke warm families don’t, in my world anyway, produce priest and religious. I think families strong in their faith are the key to vocations for boys and girls. I must also say that it is a grave injustice to our Church and the Body of Christ to say “The purpose of altar servers is not to allow one gender to feel special.” I found it a bit offensive. THE PURPOSE OF ALTAR SERVERS ARE TO SERVE GOD!!! My opinion only.