Vatican paper comes in praise of altar girls [John Allen]

[Catholic_Press]

Earlier this week, more than 50,000 young altar servers from around the world flocked to Rome for a gathering with Pope Benedict XVI. It’s a regular event, but this year there was a twist: For the first time, altar girls outnumbered the boys roughly 60-40.

On the front page of Saturday’s edition of L’Osservatore Romano (which is released in Rome Friday afternoon), the official Vatican newspaper, essayist Lucetta Scaraffia styles the post-Vatican II acceptance of altar girls as an important breakthrough, saying that it marks the end of “any attribution of impurity” to females, and corrects a “profound inequality.”

Here’s the relevant section from Scaraffia’s essay, in NCR translation:

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[irishpatrick]

That is a piece from the newspaper and is not a formal statement from the Church.

I am personally 100% against female altar servers, they pervert the very reason for having servers at the altar: to encourage vocations to the Priesthood.

Since the Church has no divine authority to ordain females, only males should serve at the altar–imo.

 

[Feanor2]

Despite my personal preference for altar boys I am glad that the pope has taking the step to personally recognize and encourage female altar servers.

I also disagree that the primary role of the server is to foster vocations. The purpose of the server is to inform the liturgy- period. The fostering of vocations is a fortunate ancillary effect.

 

[irishpatrick]

I also disagree that the primary role of the server is to foster vocations. The purpose of the server is to inform the liturgy- period. The fostering of vocations is a fortunate ancillary effect.

Simply false.

 

[irishpatrick]

The very fact that the make-up of severs was 60-40 with females being the large majority is an enormous problem for the church. Young men tend to engage in activity that they consider to be manly, and with the presence of females as severrs the entire scope of serving has utterly changed. It is no surprise, imo, that vocations to the Priesthood have dropped; the Church does not make it clear that the calling to the Priesthood is for MALES only. It is also no surprise that since 1984 many women continually call for ordination of females despite the clear statements from the Vatican.

Certainly, there are other issues driving down vocations, such a parents not having many children and intentionally discouraging vocations. However, there is little doubt that altar serving does very little in today’s culture to encourage boys to enter the Priesthood, it is seen as a service that ANYONE can render, nothing heroic in that.

Huge problem.

 

[MugenOne]

My church has alter grandpa and grandma. No young people want to do it except the Vietnamese and the Mexican.

 

[curlycool89]

There’s not some grand conspiracy by women or something, it’s just that women are volunteering and men aren’t. Why aren’t men volunteering? I don’t know, maybe men are more lazy.

If people are really pinning their hopes on more vocations on male alter servers, then it’s going to fail. Alter servers may have once been a way to lead to vocations, but that is no longer the case. Many children become alter servers after first communion because their parents enrol them, and most of them probably won’t serve more than a couple years.

If people really wanted to use alter servers as a “vocation pool”, then the first step isn’t eliminating the girls, it’s making it more exclusive. Right now anyone can sign up to be an alter server (and before I go on, that is how it has to be, otherwise there wouldn’t be enough volunteers) and receive training. If you were to make it exclusive and make people work more for it (references or having to do extra reading or something), then you’d have only the people who are dedicated to it.

irishpatrick, all you’re doing is appealing to the correlation fallacy. You have no other proof, all it is is trying to find someone to blame for the problem. “More alter girls” doesn’t mean “less priests” unless you can show me a scientific study that shows that men aren’t becoming priests because of alter girls (or even a significant sample sized survey saying as much). Otherwise you’re just playing the blame game.

 

[irishpatrick]

There’s not some grand conspiracy by women or something, it’s just that women are volunteering and men aren’t. Why aren’t men volunteering? I don’t know, maybe men are more lazy.

If people are really pinning their hopes on more vocations on male alter servers, then it’s going to fail. Alter servers may have once been a way to lead to vocations, but that is no longer the case. Many children become alter servers after first communion because their parents enrol them, and most of them probably won’t serve more than a couple years.

If people really wanted to use alter servers as a “vocation pool”, then the first step isn’t eliminating the girls, it’s making it more exclusive. Right now anyone can sign up to be an alter server (and before I go on, that is how it has to be, otherwise there wouldn’t be enough volunteers) and receive training. If you were to make it exclusive and make people work more for it (references or having to do extra reading or something), then you’d have only the people who are dedicated to it.

irishpatrick, all you’re doing is appealing to the correlation fallacy. You have no other proof, all it is is trying to find someone to blame for the problem. “More alter girls” doesn’t mean “less priests” unless you can show me a scientific study that shows that men aren’t becoming priests because of alter girls (or even a significant sample sized survey saying as much). Otherwise you’re just playing the blame game.

Here is the thing, I am not saying this is a catch-all…nor did I say it my post. I am saying that if the Church wants to increase vocations, many things need to happen, which includes making it ABSOLUTELY clear to everyone that the altar is a place for males and only males. Boys and young men need to see boys and young men serving…the minute girls and young women are present it changes the entire way males look at the situation.

Consider this from a 1994 letter from the Congregation of Divine Worship:

***From the point of view of liturgical law, an official interpretation of Canon 230, Paragraph 2, of the Code of Canon law on the possibility of delegating certain liturgical offices led to a 1994 letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments clarifying that girls may serve at the altar. But bishops are not bound to permit them to do so, nor could the episcopal conference limit the bishop’s faculty to decide for himself. A further clarifying letter published in 2001 said priests are not compelled to have girls serve at the altar, even when their bishops grant permission.

The 1994 letter states: **“It will always be very appropriate to follow the noble tradition of having boys serve at the altar. As is well known, this has led to a reassuring development of priestly vocations. Thus the obligation to support such groups of altar boys will always continue.” *****

One of the main problems we have today is a lack of clarity, true clarity in which little to no doubt exists in the faith. IMO, the Church needs to restore that clarity in all areas, including altar serving. Today, we see a perversion of many things, and that is because there is a lack of insistence upon clarity across the board.

BTW, regarding your charge of “correlation fallacy,” please go here and read that piece:

ncregister.com/site/article/17062/

 

[Redratfish]

Take a look at USA parishes and dioceses who have male only altar servers: they have no vocation problems.

Here is the thing, I am not saying this is a catch-all…not did I say it my post. I am saying that if the Church wants to increase vocations, many things need to happen, which includes making it ABSOLUTELY clear to everyone that the altar is a place for males and only males. Boys and young men need to see boys and young men serving…the minute girls and young women are present it changes the entire way males look at the situation.

Consider this from a 1994 letter from the Congregation of Divine Worship:

***From the point of view of liturgical law, an official interpretation of Canon 230, Paragraph 2, of the Code of Canon law on the possibility of delegating certain liturgical offices led to a 1994 letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments clarifying that girls may serve at the altar. But bishops are not bound to permit them to do so, nor could the episcopal conference limit the bishop’s faculty to decide for himself. A further clarifying letter published in 2001 said priests are not compelled to have girls serve at the altar, even when their bishops grant permission.

The 1994 letter states: **“It will always be very appropriate to follow the noble tradition of having boys serve at the altar. As is well known, this has led to a reassuring development of priestly vocations. Thus the obligation to support such groups of altar boys will always continue.” *****

One of the main problems we have today is a lack of clarity, true clarity in which little to no doubt exists in the faith. IMO, the Church needs to restore that clarity in all areas, including altar serving. Today, we see a perversion of many things, and that is because there is a lack of insistence upon clarity across the board.

I would love to see any resource you have that dioceses with girl altar servers are having fewer priests ordained. I have heard your argument countless times. But I have never seen proof.

 

[irishpatrick]

I would love to see any resource you have that dioceses with girl altar servers are having fewer priests ordained. I have heard your argument countless times. But I have never seen proof.

Go here:

ncregister.com/site/article/17062/

BTW, use logic. Since the Vatican opened altar serving to girls, has there been a general increase or decrease in vocations?

Now, as I stated above, there are many factors, and I openly concede that point. However, we are acting in a foolish manner if we ignore the fairly new presence of females on the altar as being meaningless to the clear drop in vocations. Everything adds to the picture. If we ignore those facts, than we are simply pushing an agenda, rather than trying to find sound solutions.

 

[Dale_M]

Go here:

ncregister.com/site/article/17062/

BTW, use logic. Since the Vatican opened altar serving to girls, has there been a general increase or decrease in vocations?

Now, as I stated above, there are many factors, and I openly concede that point. However, we are acting in a foolish manner if we ignore the fairly new presence of females on the altar as being meaningless to the clear drop in vocations. Everything adds to the picture. If we ignore those facts, than we are simply pushing an agenda, rather than trying to find sound solutions.

Patrick, you have raised an interesting issue, and one I have seen mentioned before. I suspect that an all-male corps of altar servers will increase vocations to the priesthood.

However, the link you offered doesn’t present any evidence that all-male altar servers increase the number of vocations. The article simply discusses two parishes which allow only boys to serve. Granted one of the parishes has produced an unusual number of priests. However, this is only one parish and the reasons for their unusual abundance could be due to many factors, including the leadership of the pastor and other staff.

The Vatican’s ruling that girls could allowed to serve was in 1994. The decline in priestly vocations and increasing priest shortage was well underway by then. If you have evidence that the change in policy has made the vocations crisis worse, it would make for interesting reading.

 

[irishpatrick]

Patrick, you have raised an interesting issue, and one I have seen mentioned before. I suspect that an all-male corps of altar servers will increase vocations to the priesthood.

However, the link you offered doesn’t present any evidence that all-male altar servers increase the number of vocations. The article simply discusses two parishes which allow only boys to serve. Granted one of the parishes has produced an unusual number of priests. However, this is only one parish and the reasons for their unusual abundance could be due to many factors, including the leadership of the pastor and other staff.

The Vatican’s ruling that girls could allowed to serve was in 1994. The decline in priestly vocations and increasing priest shortage was well underway by then. If you have evidence that the change in policy has exacerbated the vocations crisis, it would make for interesting reading.

The article I posted (the link) demonsrates the health of a diocese that have all male altar servers…that is the main point of me posting that link. However, Lincoln, Nebraska remains a fantastic test bed for what I am saying.

There are many reasons for dropped vocations, as I made clear in prior posts. However, I think it is foolish to ignore one area (altar severs) out some form of political corrrectness. It seems appropriate to allow females to altar serve, so for most people that cannot form a contributing factor, and I say that is folly.

Inventions surrounding Vatican II contribute.

Apathetic parents contribute.

A materialistc culture contributes.

Smaller families contribute.

Secularism contributes (a big one).

A yes, not defining altar server roles as male only does contribute. Look at Lincoln.

BTW, Arlington, VA changed their policy in 2006, yet take a look at what shape that dioces was in in the past:

ad2000.com.au/articles/1995/apr1995p5_851.html

Finally, do not look past the statement from the Congregation of Divine Worship when they said:

***the tradition of having boys serve at the altar has led to a reassuring development of priestly vocations. Thus the obligation to support such groups of altar boys will always continue.” ***

The Congregation did not say “might have,” it said “has led…”

If we give away the masculinity of the Church, than men and boys will want nothing to do with the faith!

 

[irishpatrick]

Questions:

Is it not a disservice to girls and young women to allow female altar servers?

How could such a service not entice females to desire the Priesthood as adults?

How could such a service, while done as a young person, not develop a sense of injustice in the hearts of women who cannot be ordained? In essence, we are telling females they are “good enough” to be altar servers, but they are not “good enough” to be ordained. How is that fair to females? How does that show clarity of roles within the Church?

It is a known fact (no guess) that altar serving has encouraged young men to consider the Priesthood…large percentages of Priests today were once altar servers. So, how could we possibly think that girls and young women would not respond the same way? Of course they will and of course they have. It simply leads to increased confusion and loss of clarity.

IMO

 

[Janks]

I think it’s kind of sad, because I do see how serving as an altar boy could inspire more boys to enter the priesthood. And I am also completely against altar girls. lol I am from the Lincoln diocese and we have the most amazing bishop!

Having never been raised in an atmosphere where altar girls are allowed, I am always extremely uncomfortable when I go to an a different diocese and they have altar girls. And I can say easily, none of the girls in my parochial school class were upset that we couldn’t train as servers. We say it as a male thing, something reserved for them, like there were certain things reserved for us girls- like the May Crowning.

But I doubt we could ever go back to all male altar servers because all the feminists in the Church would pitch a fit. A little harsh, but true.

 

[irishpatrick]

I think it’s kind of sad, because I do see how serving as an altar boy could inspire more boys to enter the priesthood. And I am also completely against altar girls. lol I am from the Lincoln diocese and we have the most amazing bishop!

Having never been raised in an atmosphere where altar girls are allowed, I am always extremely uncomfortable when I go to an a different diocese and they have altar girls. And I can say easily, none of the girls in my parochial school class were upset that we couldn’t train as servers. We say it as a male thing, something reserved for them, like there were certain things reserved for us girls- like the May Crowning.

But I doubt we could ever go back to all male altar servers because all the feminists in the Church would pitch a fit. A little harsh, but true.

If the Pope says to do it, then it would happen. However, I do not see the Pope maing that decision.

 

[wisdomseeker]

i went to a few Latin Mass, there is was no shortage of altar boy there. small Church, but there were at least six or seven altar boys. Gloria be to God.

I see the hand of God on this.

 

[Adeodatus]

Why shouldn’t the Vatican paper be as vomitous as most others? I am becoming convinced that journalism is a low profession.

 

[canadianguy1143]

The Vatican’s ruling that girls could allowed to serve was in 1994. The decline in priestly vocations and increasing priest shortage was well underway by then. If you have evidence that the change in policy has made the vocations crisis worse, it would make for interesting reading.

While the Vatican permitted the authorized use of altar girls in 1994, the use of Altar girls preceded that ruling by decades! My older sister during the 1970s was an altar girl!!

The vocation crisis can be attributed to many things that irishpatrick has said. The biggest can best be described in the book “Goodbye good men”.

 

[Catholic1954]

Questions:

Is it not a disservice to girls and young women to allow female altar servers?

How could such a service not entice females to desire the Priesthood as adults?

How could such a service, while done as a young person, not develop a sense of injustice in the hearts of women who cannot be ordained? In essence, we are telling females they are “good enough” to be altar servers, but they are not “good enough” to be ordained. How is that fair to females? How does that show clarity of roles within the Church?

It is a known fact (no guess) that altar serving has encouraged young men to consider the Priesthood…large percentages of Priests today were once altar servers. So, how could we possibly think that girls and young women would not respond the same way? Of course they will and of course they have. It simply leads to increased confusion and loss of clarity.

IMO

A large percentage of prision inmates are also former alter servers.

 

[Timothy17]

Earlier this week, more than 50,000 young altar servers from around the world flocked to Rome for a gathering with Pope Benedict XVI. It’s a regular event, but this year there was a twist: For the first time, altar girls outnumbered the boys roughly 60-40.

I remember one priest, a Canadian, speaking on RealCatholic TV, saying (I summarize from memory, so, of course, if I err then I hope this man forgives me it) that the reason he was not in favour of altar girls was exactly because girls, seeing opportunities, happily seize them ; whereas boys are happy to be crowded out, and allow the girls to do it. Now, if a secularist or feminist objects to this, as if it weren’t reality, then we need only search the schools, where we find girls quickly crowding out the boys, specially in higher education - where, (and this no surprise), compulsory attendance is not required. Clearly, then, this is no fault of girls ; in fact, it’s a fault of boys : if they don’t “have” to do it - if they don’t need to take responsibility - they won’t ; and, as a consequence, will happily let someone else do it, which all too often is a girl.

Now, I could cite so many examples of boys “floating” through school by getting (or even paying!) girls (or girlfriends) to do their homework. This, obviously, I cannot demonstrate statistically, because it cannot be easily shown ; however, I think most other men (and many ladies) can likely recall this phenomenon during school.

So, again, I won’t - and I hope neither will you - fear being charged with sexism over opposing altar girls in the Churches, as if we suspected girls were inferior to boys ; on the contrary, it’s because boys are so seemingly happy to dislodge responsibility to another so they can be “free” to do as they please (so they think) on one hand ; or perhaps out of a natural or even spiritual timidity hesitate in approaching (as the ladies, I think from experience, can attest to, seeing as so many men take so long even to work the courage to approach a woman they are attracted to or interested in), that it becomes necessary to “make” them take responsibility ; otherwise, to be frank, boys will literally always be boys. Now, I will not venture to say that our Lord had this issue in mind when he established that males would be the priests of His Church ; rather, this may be a secondary reason, or even not the one at all - nonetheless, the aforementioned crowding out yet remains.