Every once in a while it is necessary to bring a bit of reality to conversations. So let’s talk real world numbers, and see if it provides a little prospective.
Let’s go back to 1965; for the simple reason that anyone ordained in 1965 would not have started theology until 1961; would not have started college until 1957; and would not have started high school until 1953.
In other words, well before the chaos of post Vatican 2 (the “spirit” of Vatican 2) had taken hold; and clearly not at a time of girls serving at the altar.
In 1965, there were 17,637 parishes, and for the sake of the example, we will assume the same number back to 1953. Statistics may move some if there were fewer parishes, but not significantly. Statistics from CARA.
So how many ordinations were there in 1965?
- Also from CARA.
What does that mean? That means that the number of men ordained that year represent 1 boy making it all the way to ordination, out of about 18 parishes.
That is, for all the parishes (18) and all the boys in each parish who served as an altar boy for one or more years, only one boy doing so from that group would be ordained.
When boys would be trained for the position was up to the individual parish; in mine, you had to be a 6th grade student.
Just for giggles, let’s assume that in the 6th grade bracket in those parishes, there was an average of 7 boys being trained; I suspect an average closer to 10; that would be more likely; but with an average of 7, that would mean that out of 125 boys, one would be ordained.
Which is another way of saying that eight tenths of one percent of the boys serving would be ordained.
I really do not think that girls serving is going to move that percentage in any significant amount.
And before someone comes back and tells me how some conservative parish had X number of ordinations, all that would be said is that there is a culture within the parish that is different from what might be termed a liberal parish, and all of that has an impact on whether or not a boy somewhere along the line might consider a vocation to the priesthood.
There are a multitude of issues which can impact a boy in terms of any future vocation, and has been stated elsewhere, allegedly 20% of those ordained did not serve as altar boys. Can serving at the altar have an impact? Absolutely. But it is simply one piece in many pieces, and the presumption is that it is the greatest impact - with no evidence being offered other than that they were altar boys.
I really don’t think it makes all that much difference whether there are altar girls or not. My own observations are that family life has far more impact than serving; as well as a host of other issues.
Over the last 24 years, my parish has had three men ordained to the priesthood, 1 more who started seminary and did not complete; 2 permanent deacons, and one who started but did not complete; and one woman who joined an order of sisters which is growing, and which wears an identifiable habit. We have the OF only, but have had 24 hour Perpetual Adoration for most of that time. And all served Mass (including the sister), and all were somewhat delayed ordinations. And for all that time, both boys and girls serve.
We all have our opinions; some might even have more than one opinion on the matter. But factually, when prior to Vatican 2 one boy in something between every 15 to 18 parishes might be ordained, out of all the boys in his class age who served, it is more than a bit hard for me to believe that having girls also serve Mass really has anything to do with the number of vocations 14 or more years later.
