Alter Servers

[Gerard Carrington]

Hi guys, look I have noticed tha some churches do and some dont allow female alter servers.

What does the church teach on tha issue?

If girls were allowed to serve on the alter, woud that also lead us to wonder why they cant take part in other duties... like priesthood?

[Matthew]

The ancient almost bimillennial tradition of the church is for the servers to be male. This has been relaxed somewhat in recent times with the decision being left to the local bishop based on particular reasons.

However the Church still clearly states its preference for the tradition of male servers and no priest can be made to have girl servers even at the insistence of his bishop.

[New Jack Swinger]

So with female altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, Communion in the hand and saying Mass with back facing the people, this is left up to the parish priest to decide?

[DavidObeid]

I don't think the priest has authority over the issue of Communion in the hand beyond what the Bishop says, but I am happy to be corrected.

Regarding saying Mass facing God or the people in the Ordinary form of the Roman Rite there was some controversy at EWTN on this issue a couple of years ago when the Bishop forbade them to have their televised (Ordinary Form) Masses facing God.

[Matthew]

That's extraordinary ministers of holy communion Charbel ;) And no, the priest here must abide by the law that is laid down concerning their usage.