Boards
I preface this by saying that I am an atheist.
My little sister is Catholic and is an altar server at the church she and my parents attend. The priest has recently decided that boys and girls cannot altar serve together. (ex. You must have 3 male altar servers together or 3 female together, never 2 girls and 1 boy and vice versa)
Additionally, he has decided that if an altar server is needed at the last minute (such as for a wedding or funeral) the entire list of boys is supposed to be called first. Then, if not all spots were filled, a girl can be asked.
I am COMPLETELY infurriated by this completely sexist behavior and was curious if this is something happening in other Catholic parishes. If so, could someone explain to me the "logic" behind it?
Thanks!
Twenty-one . Ravenclaw
paxetveritas wrote:
I actually see where he is coming from. Altar servers have traditionally been boys because serving at the altar allows them to be involved in serving the Mass and does a lot to inspire vocations to the priesthood. Until Vatican II, there were no female altar servers. I am not personally against female altar servers (I know of many who are, and I see where they are coming from, but I don't think there's any harm in a few female servers) - I actually think that priest's approach makes a lot of sense. He's allowing female altar servers, but giving precedence to the boys. My church usually has 2-5 male servers and 1-2 female servers at a usual Mass.
It's not sexist; it doesn't mean boys are better. It's a practice that is meant to foster vocations. It may not look like it's fair from the outside, but if you view it in the context of our religion, it does make sense.
That's an interesting perspective, actually. I hadn't considered that. However, isn't the Catholic church really hurting for nuns and sisters currently? I know my parish hasn't had a nun for over 15 years and neither have any of the churches around us. Considering that there are also female vocations to the faith, it seems backwards to push women who want to get involved with christ away. Thoughts?
Also, your answer does not address why boys and girls are not supposed to altar serve together. Why is preferred that it be 3 boys or 3 girls, why can't there be a combination of both? This is where the majority of my confusion stems from.
Twenty-one . Ravenclaw
As far as the Church hurting for nuns and sisters, that depends on how you look at it. Yes, there are way less nuns today than there were 100 years ago - but that was before Vatican II and certain ideas of the 1960's-70s that lead many women to leave the convent. I think women's vocations are actually on the rise now, though, and have been in maybe the past 10 years. For example, the Nashville Dominicans had 100 postulants last time I had read about them. Anyway, altar serving is much better used to foster priestly vocations in boys, since they are helping to do what they would do as priests. Nuns can help out (St. Therese was a sacristan) but as activities on the altar are not their primary function, it's not the #1 way to helpp increase women's vocations. I do think more attention should be given to women's vocations in many areas, but I think part of why priests are focused on is that there is a growing priest shortage due to the low numbers of vocations between like 1980 and 2000. Again, they are also on the rise now, as my generation seems to be more traditional...my diocesan seminary is actually building a new wing to house the seminarians, so that's good. Pretty much always, in a parish puts a focus on Adoration and has reverent Masses, there will be more vocations (both male and female) than in ones that never have those.
The priest's rule about only boys or girls serving together is a little odd. I would say it's not the best idea as it could even become divisive - feminists would go to the Mass the girls were serving, and the really stiff radtrads would go to the one served by altar boys. (That's a bit of an extreme situation, hopefully) But it is just his idea, I've never heard of another church doing that. My church is very conservative, and the system of mostly boys and a few girls works very well. Maybe he's just testing it out, and would revise it if it seems awkward. Or he could be thinking that the young boys won't want to do something they see as a "girly" activity, I mean they are like 5-10 years old. Maybe he's found that they fight a lot with the opposite sex and it could be a matter of practicality, or it could be something requested by a parent. I can really only speculate...you could always ask him politely if you wanted. He may actually have a very good reason. So yeah, a little odd, but I don't think it's a real big deal! 
