AltarMan:
While altar girls are certainly (currently) allowed by the Church under most circumstances, their use is certainly not mandated, nor is it even recommended (as it certainly is with males.) I think the primary reasons for not allowing female altar servers is quite clear:
I believe the wording is “permitted,” no?
- They fill-up slots that should be reserved for males who might just possibly be discerning a call to the priesthood or permanent diaconate. Because serving at the altar has historically been such an important means to foster such vocations, all altar server slots should be reserved for male.
Theoretically they infringe on spots that males would take. But that’s besides the point. The important part is not that males necesarrily, “want,” these spots, but that there should be a sense of responsibility given to males in that they are
expected to serve. That sense of responsibility, even if it doesn’t lead to a vocation, is not a bad thing to foster.
I can’t say I agree with your logic there, though. It’s only a piece of fosterting vocations. Much more important for fostering vocations is thorough catechization, especially directed towards the Eucharist, for it is the Eucharist that makes a priest. Altar serving, as is, in our parishes without catechization, is not going to yield great amounts of vocations. Perhaps places with only altar boys have more vocations, but that is likely because they are more othodox and catechize their boys better. Likewise, I would wager that a parish that banned altar boys and only allowed altar girls, but had intense catechization for its boys, would have more vocations than a parish which merely had all altar boys out of necessity, but neglected to teach them properly. (Can you tell that I think catechization is very important? I tend to overstate it, so be kind on me with your response.)
- The use of altar girls was approved as a response to gross abuse and dissent. That’s a horrible foundation for any change. Until the Holy See once again restricts altar serving to males, it makes sense not to perpetuate the rather sleazy basis for the current situation.
And yet, it was the Holy See that approved it as an option for bishops to exercise, wasn’t it? Maybe it isn’t the best reason to do so, but it’s no argument against the validity of female altar servers.
- Females cannot serve in all the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Unity on this issue is important, and I hardly see the Easterners allowing female servers en masse.
Which is besides the point. Why is unity important on this issue? Rome has not forced the Eastern Catholic Churches to have altar girls, so the Orthodox shouldn’t be fearful of being forced to have altar girls, should they decide to submit to Peter. That the Latin Church uses altar girls has no bearing on this. That Rome hasn’t forced the Eastern Churches to have altar girls has everything to do with this. It is clear that Rome respect Eastern traditions here, and that is what matters.
- It promotes false expectations and hopes. “If women can serve, why can’t they be priests…?”
Again, proper catechization would solve this problem. They would understand what exactly an ordained minister is and why women cannot be ordained as priests and deacons. If people were taught properly 95% of these problems wouldn’t exist.
- It ruins a wonderful tradition that wasn’t hurting anything – except perhaps the egos of some sexist/feminists.
It certainly was not a bad tradition, but Rome has allowed it, so it isn’t intrinsically bad. I wouldn’t be disappointed if they removed the option for altar girls, but, to be honest, to talk about it as if it is the root of a problem is besides the point.
I think if you teach people correctly, things will fall into place. Yes, externals and a papable sense of the sacred do help, and I don’t deny it, in fact, I agree with it. And yes, I absolutely support adding things that increase the sense of sacredness in the Mass. However, we should start with the firm foundation of teaching Catholics what they believe, and then concern ourselves. When people know what they believe and why they should believe it, they’ll start doing things on their own, just like how the sincere Catholic who understands the Mass will fulfill his weekly obligation out of an ardent desire to be with Christ, and not merely on the pain of mortal sin. Oh well, I’m rambling. I appreciate your zeal, as always, AltarMan, but I think you’re coming at it from the wrong angle.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s getting late, and I have a mass to serve tomorrow morning.
Oh yeah and even our choirs are predominately made up of females with a couple of males for tenor and bass.
I see the same thing in my parish. We do have a very dedicated Knights of Columbus group, but by and large, much is left to the women of the parish. Men need to buck up and start taking responsibility for their Church–start reading at Mass more often, teach CCD classes, go to daily Mass and Adoration. Basically men are the role models for the boys out there and they need to act like it. If we want more vocations to the priesthood and religious life, we as a Catholic culture/church need to work to foster them. As a woman I’m tired of hearing the excuse that girls and women are pushing men out–if more men would step up that wouldn’t be the case. The reason that more boys aren’t altar servers is because they aren’t being encouraged to do that by the parents and CCD teachers.
