Girl Altar Servers

[centurionguard]

Right. Because God forbid a young girl should serve at the altar and be inspired to become a nun.

The bishops’ “duty” to prohibit girls from serving isn’t being neglected; it’s non-existent. Roma locuta est. A useful article with citations is in Wikipedia here.

I’m not here to give personal bias whether the Catholic Church approves of Altar Girls or not. From my understanding the Holy See has already given diocesan bishops permission to use Altar Girls at their discretion. Obviously this has created mixed feelings in the Church. I see no reason why Catholics can’t be given the option to agree or disagree since the Vatican ruling on this subject has NOT been made Dogma.

My only query is WHY is it that in a number of dioceses that the number of Altar Girls out number the Altar Boys?

Perhaps someone here can breathe some wisdom into this?

 

[trophybearer]

I’m not here to give personal bias whether the Catholic Church approves of Altar Girls or not. From my understanding the Holy See has already given diocesan bishops permission to use Altar Girls at their discretion. Obviously this has created mixed feelings in the Church. I see no reason why Catholics can’t be given the option to agree or disagree since the Vatican ruling on this subject has NOT been made Dogma.

My only query is WHY is it that in a number of dioceses that the number of Altar Girls out number the Altar Boys?

Perhaps someone here can breathe some wisdom into this?

because girls have cooties.

 

[Aramis]

I’m not here to give personal bias whether the Catholic Church approves of Altar Girls or not. From my understanding the Holy See has already given diocesan bishops permission to use Altar Girls at their discretion. Obviously this has created mixed feelings in the Church. I see no reason why Catholics can’t be given the option to agree or disagree since the Vatican ruling on this subject has NOT been made Dogma.

My only query is WHY is it that in a number of dioceses that the number of Altar Girls out number the Altar Boys?

Perhaps someone here can breathe some wisdom into this?

Rome has given Roman bishops the authority to decide diocese by diocese.

The other ritual churches may set their own standards. Some, like the Ruthenian Metropolia of Pittsburgh, forbid females from liturgical ministries behind the iconostasis. Others permit non-clerical roles, including Altar Server and EMHC.

 

[preV2tradcath]

The term altar boys really bothers me. Even in the case of males only, it should be altar servers. There are quite a few servers around that are old enough not to be called boys anymore. If you are 12 or younger you are a boy, if you are 18 then you are a man.

Good point, Cristiano. Even though we have all male servers because it is the EF (I am the head one), we have often had a mixture of men and boys. For a while I was the only man, but now have a father/son team. The son is still a boy, but Dad definitely isn’t.

 

[ciero]

Really? But isn’t the Pope the leader of the whole Catholic Church, not just the Latin Rite?

We Eastern Catholics CHOOSE to be in communion with the Pope. We love him greatly and respect his role as successor to St. Peter. With that said the Pope has no say as to what is done liturgically in ANY of the Eastern churches. We have our own Patriarchs, Major Archbishops Metropolitans and Synods to govern our churches. Rome governs the Latin Rite the sui juris churches of the East govern themselves.

 

[ChurchTorch]

NO!! The Vatican may allow it for the Latin church, but they (the Vatican ) hav NO say as to what goes on in a Byzantine, Maronite or Coptic Church!

Tell that to the Pope of Rome…

 

[ChurchTorch]

**We Eastern Catholics CHOOSE to be in communion with the Pope. ** We love him greatly and respect his role as successor to St. Peter. With that said the Pope has no say as to what is done liturgically in ANY of the Eastern churches. We have our own Patriarchs, Major Archbishops Metropolitans and Synods to govern our churches. Rome governs the Latin Rite the sui juris churches of the East govern themselves.

So do “we Latin Rite Catholics.”

Ultimately the Pope is the Vicar of Christ here on Earth. The “Patriarchs, Major Archbishops Metropolitans and Synods” you mention are not.

 

[Hesychios]

My only query is WHY is it that in a number of dioceses that the number of Altar Girls out number the Altar Boys?

My old Catholic priest friend (Memory Eternal!) used to state with conviction that altar service was very helpful in building vocations to the priesthood. I think he believed that most priests of his generation did altar service as boys and this helped plant the seed of service in Christ.

He blamed the introduction of female altar servers with impacting vocations later.

I know that in the Orthodox church, altar service is a way forward in vocation. The church still has readers and subdeacons (requiring a tonsure by the bishop), men who rise from the rank of altar servers. Many go on (with additional instruction, of course) to the diaconate and even the priesthood. So being an altar server is something men will want to do as they discern their future in the service of God. Because the men will do it, the boys will do it.

 

[ciero]

Tell that to the Pope of Rome…

Dont need to. HE understands it. Its you Latin Trads who dont get it.

 

[ciero]

So do “we Latin Rite Catholics.”

Ultimately the Pope is the Vicar of Christ here on Earth. The “Patriarchs, Major Archbishops Metropolitans and Synods” you mention are not.

Being Vicar of Christ has nothing to do with jurisdiction or being any any other churches business. Rome knows where to put its nose and where not to.

 

[centurionguard]

Being Vicar of Christ has nothing to do with jurisdiction or being any any other churches business. Rome knows where to put its nose and where not to.

Correct me if I’m wrong but if I take your your statement literal it seems that your calling the Pope just a figurehead. The Pope and the Magisterium DO have final say as to the business affairs of “how” its Catholic Churches are properly run. If the Body of the Church doesn’t know where its Hands, Feet and Head are at, then the entire Body falls apart at the seams.

 

[PYCHAK]

Really? But isn’t the Pope the leader of the whole Catholic Church, not just the Latin Rite?

The Pope has no say over the other Catholic Churches. Each has its own hierarchy, discipline, theology, sacramental system, calendar, liturgy and each is an equal “Church” with the other. There is no superior Church related to numbers or location of the faithful.
He does have a say-so over the Liturgy, theology, calendar, discipline of the Church of the West ONLY.
John Paul II urged the Church to breathe with its Eastern and Western “lungs” giving some hope to the eventual end of the thought that to be “Catholic” one has to be a Roman Catholic (or “Latin Rite”.
There are 23 Catholic Churches–22 Eastern and one Western. Vatican II emphasized that each is a Catholic Church whole and entire. None alone is "THE “Catholic’Church”.

 

[bluerose]

The term altar boys really bothers me. Even in the case of males only, it should be altar servers. There are quite a few servers around that are old enough not to be called boys anymore.** If you are 12 or younger you are a boy, if you are 18 then you are a man**.

Can’t believe no one’s asked this… what are you if you are between the ages of 12 and 18???

 

[Cristiano]

Can’t believe no one’s asked this… what are you if you are between the ages of 12 and 18???

I do not think that I am allowed to post the term that I use for my son that is a server between the age of 12 and 18.

That age range is a transitional period where both names could apply at the same time.

 

[John_Larocque]

Girl Altar boys are an abuse in the Byzantine tradition (and the Latin for that matter, but that’s a whole 'nother ball game).

… and yet it was a practice approved in the Latin church by the Vatican under the last pontiff.

 

[Formosus]

… and yet it was a practice approved in the Latin church by the Vatican under the last pontiff.

Matters of discipline are fallible decisions, even for the Roman Pontiff.

 

[DorianGregorian]

Excuse me?

Code of Eastern Canons, Canon 43:

Canon 43

The bishop of the Church of Rome, in whom resides the office
(munus) given in special way by the Lord to Peter, first of the
Apostles and to be transmitted to his successors, is head of the
college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ and Pastor of the entire
Church on earth; therefore, in virtue of his office (munus) he
enjoys supreme, full, immediate and universal ordinary power in
the Church which he can always freely exercise.

When the Pope says “jump”, anyone whether Latin or Eastern says “how high?”

 

[John_Larocque]

Matters of discipline are fallible decisions, even for the Roman Pontiff.

Well, the Pope was wrong to do it, anyway. No pope, patriarch or bishop should be permitted to make those kind of decisions and effectively “trump” Tradition. The proverbial “buck” could have stopped there but… unfortunately it didn’t. It could take centuries to undo the damage that’s been done in the last 45 years alone.

 

[bkovacs]

Really? But isn’t the Pope the leader of the whole Catholic Church, not just the Latin Rite?

He would not altar the traditions of the Eastern churches!. If he did, he would have a mass exodus. The Eastern churches are not “Roman” Catholic. They are Catholic of an Eastern rite, or better put. Orthodox Christians in communion with Rome. That’s all!. Plus altar girls being used for any reason in the Byzantine Churches are a liturgical abuse that must not be promoted whatsoever.

 

[grace_singh]

i have heard that in the Oriental Orthodox traditions, women and girls are not even allowed at the altar, much less serving at the altar.

in my own church, women don’t really do anything. men and men only serve at the altar, read the Scriptures, take the collection, and pray during the service. i am ok with this, in fact i rather like it.

there is a sense of solemnity and authority because of this. it is a little hard to explain, but it’s definately a good thing.