I’m sorry, but no it’s not. Small (t) tradition gives us character, and identity.Breaking with tradition sometimes is good; feminizing the sanctuary OMG and reduces vocation…I don’t think you can lay that on alter girls…
Bruce
and small t traditions also represent oppression to many people and genders…think about it
It is common knowledge that political pressure (especially from America) was put on the Holy Father to compromise on this issue. Many parishes were already defying the clear instructions of the Holy See and were using altar girls illicitly. JPII capitulated in 1994 when he let the CDWDS allow altar girls on a limited basis.
There are, however, traditions which are maleable. For example, I’m sure you would not assert that the church broke with it’s character and identity when it switched from versus populem to ad orientem in the 6th century… despite the fact that that was a departure from traditions at the time.
And this is the kind of thinking that makes me want to cry as an 18 year old male.
I’ve heard many people complain about the gender equality in the church. I would ask you, would you have complained to Jesus? Would you have said to him, “Why are your twelve chosen only male? Isn’t that inequality?”
The ditching of traditional practices, along with the many innovations that occurred post-Vatican II has caused incredible amounts of damage in the Church. The Church is now in tatters in the West, and we are experiencing a crisis in faith.
Actually, some traditions evolve, organically, over hundreds of years. Such is with the practice of Communion in the hand for example. Sure, there is some evidence that suggests that Communion in the hand was a common practice in the early Church, but it gradually fell out of favour and by the 8th century had been ruled illegal.
You’re not the only one. The FSSP parishes are our refuge.
Well… not so fast, I wouldn’t claim that those are the responsibility of Vatican II, of the OF, or of 12 year old girls acting as altar servers.
I realize that, but by itself, that is not going to change much at large. Not yet.
In the west it will eventually, if only for the reason that more orthodox catholics will have more children, and thus eventually outbreed those who do not follow Church teachings.
Many, many people would disagree with you. The Church has stood strong for 1800 years in the West, surviving empires, kingdoms, famines, the Black Death, the religious wars, the industrial revolution, huge societal changes (eg the slow emergence of the middle class after the Black Death), two world wars, the biggest atrocities man-kind has ever seen, and your telling me now, that it was the change in society in the 60s that has caused all of this?
This is something that is very hard for those of us in the Eastern Orthodox churches to hear. Male altar servers are a tradition of the undivided church, and one kept by both east and west for nearly a thousand years after the traditional date of the schism.
I should also note that according to this survey, far fewer Orthodox believe that women are marginalized in their church…so perhaps a firm adherence to tradition has its advantages.Promulgation of what, if I may be so thick? Do note that I am not disagreeing with you, and if you find it desirable that we continue this in another thread or in a PM, by all means.