Male and Female participation...Servers

[ciero]

They may not be liturgical ministries, but they sure qualify you for becoming a deacon in my former Protestant faith.

My point is (other then the one on top of my head ) that if women don’t belong in the altar to serve then Fr should be dusting and vacuuming himself. And this modern idea I keep seeing in the UGCC & the Ruthenians of lay people confessing in the altar is just more foolishness. People need to think before they start doing things.

 

[PbloPicasso]

youtube.com/user/RealCatholicTV?feature=mhum#p/u/2/XcK6tLFau60

If what Michael Vores’s says is true, then in about 50 years you will see no women serving in the mass as we see today. They will probably be allowed to read, usher along with other preparation and clean up. This is a dignified service and the altar serving needs to return back to the males, since males are the only ones that can be ordained. boys need that dignity to encourage them towards seeking a vocation to the office of priest. We need more priests, not women readers. Nun’s and sisters are not ordained. They are consecrated lay people. Their dignity is also a specific vocation, not that of a clergyman.

The above link proposes that a Cardinal eludes to the possibility that the Novus Ordo will no longer exist in 50 years, which thrills me. The Latin rite has fallen on its face as a result of the abuses of today. Stripping the mass of its true dignity that we see remaining in the Eastern rites.

Allowing girls to serve as altar servers is like allowing boys date boys or girls date girls with no hope of any relationship ever being allowed to foster deeper than natural law allows. Something like that.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

As far as I know (and I’m PRETTY sure of this) my melkite church (and worldwide) does not allow female servers. It does allow female cantors, as evidenced by the fact that one of our cantors is female (and is married to one our deacons-----plus her Down-Syndrome afflicted son is a server with me at the altar). Overall, it doesn’t matter----half of the liturgy references and honors the Theotokos almost constantly and half the icons in our church are of female saints-and two of our most respected parishioners are nuns-----so I don’t feel a “sexist” vibe in the liturgy.

 

[PbloPicasso]

Well, one of our problems is EMHC. at least 80% of them are women. I’m one of the few men serving, as well as my son. He’s an Altar Boy and an EMHC. This is no disrespect to those girls serving, because they may be discerning too, which is important. My problem is with priests and bishops not complying with orders from their superiors. When they don’t they set a poor example for the laity.

 

[ciero]

Well, one of our problems is EMHC. at least 80% of them are women. I’m one of the few men serving, as well as my son. He’s an Altar Boy and an EMHC. This is no disrespect to those girls serving, because they may be discerning too, which is important. My problem is with priests and bishops not complying with orders from their superiors. When they don’t they set a poor example for the laity.

Something we Byzantines don’t have to worry about (except the Ruthenians), thank God!

 

[Aramis]

Something we Byzantines don’t have to worry about (except the Ruthenians), thank God!

RPL sets a hard number for how many are allowed… counting deacons and concelebrants! And only allows men.

1 per 70 communicants.

 

[ciero]

RPL sets a hard number for how many are allowed… counting deacons and concelebrants! And only allows men.

1 per 70 communicants.

I have witnessed women distributing the Eucharist at St. St. Stephen’s in Phoenix, and at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Albuquerque. And there were less then 140 communicants. What the laws says is one thing…what happens in reality is another… unfortunately.

 

[bkovacs]

Believe it or not but some Greek Orthodox and OCA Churches experimented with female altar servers, but that got squashed quick. It is definitely not the norm in any Eastern Orthodox/Greek Catholic Church. I have also seen it at a certain UGCC Church in Mckeesport PA, but I feel that the priest is trying to make a personal point, which is not welcome at all.

 

[PbloPicasso]

Well, I sent an email to my pastor about this, but from a perspective of “equaling things” out. I really don’t like having them for traditional reasons. It’s hard enough to have the other parts done. Keep in mind I came form the Church of Christ (Campbellite heritage). It was scandalous when they introduced 4 song leaders, which included to women, to sing the particular part.

Most priests give in to the liberalizing of our society in my opinion from what I’ve seen. I would be hated if I were a priest because I’d do things by the book. I was also an NCO in the Army and know how to do things that crawl under people’s skin even though I’m just following the rubic. I plan to do that same as a new teacher, the best I can in my new career change. If the Lord ever allows me to become a deacon, I’ll be obedient and do things according to the rubic. If the priest gets “creative” that’s on him. But I don’t believe Catholics are ready. It’s like someone said let your beer belly out by unbuttoning the top button of the trouser and now they refuse to button it back. It’s sloppy. What an image.

 

[Aramis]

I have witnessed women distributing the Eucharist at St. St. Stephen’s in Phoenix, and at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Albuquerque. And there were less then 140 communicants. What the laws says is one thing…what happens in reality is another… unfortunately.

Write to the bishop. If it persists, complain in writing to the consistory for the eastern churches & the CDWS… The advantage of union is having the ability to invoke higher authority.

 

[ciero]

Write to the bishop. If it persists, complain in writing to the consistory for the eastern churches & the CDWS… The advantage of union is having the ability to invoke higher authority.

It’s happening in the bishops own cathedral…you don’t think he is aware of it? And if my sources are correct Rome is already working on it…along with the RDL monstrosity.

 

[TEX]

I would like to get the position of Eastern Catholics on the issue of competition of girls and boys for serving. Does your parish have issues that show more participation of girls than boys. .

I didn’t think Eastern Catholics allowed female alter boys. Certainly most don’t. When did that happen? Latinization???

 

[Frank_J]

The OCA has nipped that on the bud when it comes to Altar Girls that was stopped.

Orthodox and do not allow female altar servers; for women are not allowed at the altar and that is that. I serve at the altar and I have been blessed to wear the stikhar with an orar by and Orthodox Bishop and I do it with great blessing of GOD great love for me. I was trainning to become a Subdeacon in the Church.

I view Altar Girls as an outrage and I would never serve with one. My Church is ROCOR and you would never ever see this happen. Hell would have to freeze over first.

At one time in the RC church altar boys were viewed as little priests and this was used in Latin Church back when the Latin Tridentine Mass ruled over the Latin Church.

RC Church made three mistakes one was dumping the Latin Tridentine Mass for the Novus Ordo and the second was Communion in the hand and the third was Altar girls.

Communion in the hand started in Holland as a show of disbelieve but Pope Paul VI allowed it to spread like infection and you see the lack of respect for communion host in Latin Church. No one, but no one, has infallibility only GOD and the Church. Pope John II allow altar girls to serve he choose to do that.

I very Friendly with Traditionalists Clergy I have spoken to them many times and I understand what they think and how they view the Novus Ordor Church. I’ve had chat’s with a group of Carmelites’ Nuns who only celebrates the Latin Tridentine Mass they dress like Nuns did before Vatican II.

EC Church should never ever do what the Latin’s done, it would make things worse for them please! Listen to me; I know I used to be RC at one time and I left because of all of that.
Don’t do it!!!

 

[PbloPicasso]

Rumor has it that the NO will no longer exist within the next 50 years according to one anonymous Cardinal. I’ve also heard CA radio hosts admit that the prudence of allowing female altar servers lacked complete thought. As far as receiving in the hand goes, I believe it’s an outrage that priests are allowed to hand it to us in the hand. But, if you think about it, we would not be allowed to receive both species if we went straight TLM. I have issues with not being allowed to receive both. I like the way the Anglican converts do it…on the knees and intinction, the way it should be done. None of these things were decided infallibly. That’s a myth. But I do agree it’s not wise to do these things and its the reason I left too at one time, but returned later, stopping short of becoming Orthodox because of my wife’s lack of understanding. I would have loved to see my children grow up to consider marriage and ordination, since they seem to want both like me. My wife doesn’t get this having come from a large family or protestant leaders, preachers, deacons and elders. She had her fill of that life.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

This seems really chauvenistic?

Except to run the vacuum and dust.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Being a moderate is really tough. I am totally opposed to women’s ordination, can’t stand extraordinary ministers trying to “bless” people and play priest, but I just don’t see the problem with female altar servers. Most of the girls at our parish do a better job than the boys (in my classroom that’s usually the case, too! ) and I don’t think nowdays there is that connection for kids that altar servers are mini priests in waiting. 99% of the kids won’t end up becoming priests anyway and I don’t see female altar servers as a threat to starting women’s ordination?

 

[ciero]

This seems really chauvenistic?

I’m not being chauvinistic…it’s the priests who are also hypocritical, no women in the alter…except when there is work to be done…IMHO the priest should do his own dirty work.