S.F. Catholic Church priest bans girls as altar servers

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I like the idea of girl altar servers. However, I have to accept that this priest knows what is best for his parish. I cannot even imagine what it would be like to be a priest in San Francisco, of all cities. I can see some wisdom for going an extra mile to teach an important message about gender.
 
My parish converted to an all-boys corps last year without so much as a whimper of controversy. We were merely following the lead of our Cathedral rector. And the boys have really taken up the torch, literally. We now have four servers at most Masses to accommodate the resurgence in use of the Communion-plate.
 
I wonder if the priest in question desires to bar married men from serving as deacons.
 
Elizium23 said:
What does that have to do with altar girls?
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Probably the assumed parallel is that since girls can’t become priests, neither can married men. But of course the permanent diaconate isn’t a “training ground,” or whatever the priest thinks altar serving is, for the priesthood. And the decision to ordain married men to the diaconate is the archbishop’s, not the pastor’s.
 
As a woman, I have absolutely no problems with this. In fact, I won’t let my daughter be an alter serve, but my sons will. I was told that alter serving was the first experience for a boy to be on the alter…like the priest. I imagine vocations have come out of this.
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
Probably the assumed parallel is that since girls can’t become priests, neither can married men. But of course the permanent diaconate isn’t a “training ground,” or whatever the priest thinks altar serving is, for the priesthood. And the decision to ordain married men to the diaconate is the archbishop’s, not the pastor’s.
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So what’s the problem with girls? As altar servers, maybe you can argue the boys are, but the girls certainly aren’t training for the priesthood either. Not any more than married male deacons are.
 
This decision is allowed to be made at the parish level by the pastor, and I would assume he knows his flock better than any of us here.

My parish allows male and female altar servers, though our servers are predominately male. The girls will often serve for a few years at most. The boys, however, often serve into their mid-to-late teens.

Gertie
 
Elizium23 said:
My parish converted to an all-boys corps last year without so much as a whimper of controversy. We were merely following the lead of our Cathedral rector. And the boys have really taken up the torch, literally. We now have four servers at most Masses to accommodate the resurgence in use of the Communion-plate.
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Would you, by any chance, be talking about Fr. John Lankeit? Great priest, that man is (long homilies though!)
 
I will be curious to see out of all the boy altar servers how many will be called to the priesthood in his parish at some point in their life.

Mary.
 
Sy_Noe said:
So what’s the problem with girls? As altar servers, maybe you can argue the boys are, but the girls certainly aren’t training for the priesthood either. Not any more than married male deacons are.
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There are many married men who are priests. There are exactly zero who are women. There is an enormous difference.
 
Maxirad said:
I wonder if the priest in question desires to bar married men from serving as deacons.
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I apologize for that sentence to some extent. I should have used the word “mostly” right before the word “bar.”
 
it is good that there are young girls interested enough in our catholic faith to want to serve
 
DaddyGirl said:
???
You won’t* let* your daughter be an altar server?!

You mean…she wants to be an altar server, and your parish allows it, and the pope has decreed it…and yet, you will not *let *her?

:nope:

.
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:yup:

Just like priests are allowed the assumption of knowing what is best for their parish, so parents have the same allowance for their families. It is hardly abuse to limit what programs a child can partake in, or to reinforce one’s own faith with a son or daughter.
 
pnewton said:
:yup:

Just like priests are allowed the assumption of knowing what is best for their parish, so parents have the same allowance for their families. It is hardly abuse to limit what programs a child can partake in, or to reinforce one’s own faith with a son or daughter.
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Thank you.
 
Regina7 said:
As a woman, I have absolutely no problems with this. In fact, I won’t let my daughter be an alter serve, but my sons will. I was told that alter serving was the first experience for a boy to be on the alter…like the priest. I imagine vocations have come out of this.
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Personally I think it takes more than male servers to have an impact on vocations. Or even have more men come to church.
 
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