(This post got me infracted at CAF and was deleted)This is a brief summary on what I know how this came about with some info on why altar boys were used in the first place.
Firstly, the altar boy was used as a position not of necessity, but to cultivate vocations to the priesthood and for training in the priesthood. As such it is not a ministry. Therefore, since there can never be such a thing as female ordination, there is no point for there ever to be female altar servers.
So, what happened ?
1) Germany began using female altar servers. This was in violation of canonical law.
2) For some reason Germany was granted an exception.
3) For some reason the entire planet, starting with Canada and the USA, thought the exception applied universally.
4) The argument was made that since the new codes did not specifically mention that altar servers must be male, then it was okay to use females. This ignores the fact that the new code specifically states that any issue not specifically addressed in the new code defer to the 1917 codes which specifically state altar servers must be male.
5) JPII rewarded the bad behavior.
The result:
When the girls showed up the boys disappeared. Less vocations.
Useful reference: Ministeria Quaedam 1973 Pope Paul VI did not feel that women could be used as lector and acolyte as these were minor orders for preparation of the priesthood.
There are two current rules governing what a priest and bishop can do in this regards:
1) If a priest chooses to use only men and boys as altar servers it is his right and the bishop cannot order otherwise.
2) A bishop may bar females in his diocese from being altar servers and all the priests must abide by his preference. I believe that there are at least 2 dioceses in the USA that bar women from serving; 1 in VA and one in NB.
Your views ?
Dear CrossBro,
You have received an infraction at Catholic Answers Forums.
Reason: Agenda posting
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Agenda posting is not allowed.
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I guess those tens of thousands of posts promoting gαy marriage in the RCC and masturbation at CAF homophileville at not "Agenda posting is not allowed."