should girls be allowed to be altar servers…

should girls be allowed to be altar servers… November 21, 2011

… here’s a fun poll.

You can make the obvious guess how I voted. If the purpose of being an altar server is to ignite the fires for the priesthood than why have a girl serve? To what purpose? And as a mother of a boy, I can attest that young men have no interest in pursuits that are considered girly. In fact, call me crazy, but women shouldn’t be lectors either.

That being said, I know quite a few young ladies who are altar servers and I know their parents. I know it would be hurtful to lay the blame of falling vocations squarely on their efforts to serve the Church. The young ladies I know are very serious Catholic girls who come from devout parents and love their faith immensely.

Could they find alternate way to express this faith and serve their parishes? Sure. Should they? Well, let’s just say we all have our opinions. Since I am not in a position of authority within the Church I must obey the guidelines established. Those guidelines state it is ok for girls to serve.

So really, I see no point in the poll other than to serve as a catalyst for more infighting among our kind. I also see no point for the public outcry when a priest decides he won’t permit girls to serve. The link I provided clearly states a priest “may” permit a girl to serve. It didn’t indicate he “had” to. I would think the decision is up to the priest. As a member of the faithful we need to recognize this and stand behind our priest’s decision. Frankly I am tired of every Tom, Dick, and Harry with a grievance having protests and sit-ins – the adult version of a temper tantrum.

Be prayerful. Be faithful. Be obedient.


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