MyCatholicSource.com - 'Quick Help' Page: Should Females Be Allowed To Be Altar Servers?

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No. Altar boys (altar servers) should be male. Note that the novelty of 'female altar boys' was rejected by the Church, for example...

Canon 44: "That women are not to come near the altar." (Council of Laodicea, 4th century A.D.)

"Women are not, however, permitted to act as altar servers." (Inaestimabile Donum, Approved and Confirmed by His Holiness Pope John Paul II)

However, due to "calculated disobedience", 'female altar boys' were later tolerated – but are not required – priests do not have to allow this, nor do dioceses. Allowing 'female altar boys' not only advances a feminist agenda, it is also known to discourage boys from serving at the altar and therefore harms vocations (since service at the altar has historically been a rich source of vocations to the priesthood). Furthermore, it may give the wrong perception concerning the proper role of women and may foster a false hope that the Church may someday allow women priests (for reasons women can't ever be priests, click here). It also seems to distract from biblical precepts such as...

"A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. She must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. Further, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control." (St. Paul, 1 Tm. 2:11-15)

"As in all the churches of the holy ones, women should keep silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. But if they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home. For it is improper for a woman to speak in the church... [W]hat I am writing to you is a commandment of the Lord." (St. Paul, 1 Cor. 14:33-35, 37)

Like it or not, the bible is clear that men and women do NOT have identical roles. Although both men and women have equal dignity, that does not mean men and women are to have identical roles. For example, men are to be head of the family while women are to be subordinate to their husbands (see 1 Pt. 3:1, Col. 3:18, Eph. 5:22-24, etc.). Men are to provide for their families (e.g. consider Sirach 25:21: "The man is a slave, in disgrace and shame, when a wife supports her husband"), while (fertile) women have the noble role of bearing children (see Gen. 3:16) and are "saved through motherhood" (see 1 Tm. 2:15). This is by God's design. And could not one argue that attempting to make men and women identical is diabolical?

In any event, since calculated disobedience by certain persons resulted in the eventual, reluctant toleration of "female altar boys", and since this practice was always rejected by the Church and was only permitted as a result of disobedience, faithful & obedient Catholics continue to reject this practice which is so harmful to vocations and promotes a feminist agenda.

Note: Novelties such as 'female altar boys' are specific to the Novus Ordo (New Order) Mass of the 1960's. To avoid such novelties, consider attending the Traditional Latin Mass. Thankfully, the Traditional Latin Mass is still lawfully said throughout the world. This ancient & incomparable, highly reverent Mass contains numerous & significant differences from the 1960's Novus Ordo Mass (try here for more information). To locate a Traditional Latin Mass in your area, try here.

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"[T]o select carefully good and upright young boys from all classes of citizens who will come generously and spontaneously to serve at the altar with careful zeal and exactness. Parents of higher social standing and culture should greatly esteem this office for their [sons]. If these youths, under the watchful guidance of the priests, are properly trained and encouraged to fulfill the task committed to them punctually, reverently and constantly, then from their number will readily come fresh candidates for the priesthood." (Pope Pius XII, "Mediator Dei", 1947 A.D.)

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