Legion of Mary Blog

In responce to a Bishop’s question of “whether a Diocesan Bishop would be able to oblige his priests to admit women and girls to service at the altar”. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments wrote back ”no”.

The Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts said,”it will always be very appropriate to follow the noble tradition of having boys serve at the altar”…”the obligation to support groups of altar boys will always remain, not least of all due to the well-known assistance that such programs have provided since time immemorial in encouraging future priestly vocations”.

The letter further stresses that there is no “right” for altar girls.  Altar girls are not acolytes, and do women are completely barred from the ministry of acolytes, rather they can only fill-in in a temporary basis.

It is importaint to keep in mind that “the non-ordained faithful do not have a right to service at the altar”.  Acolytes are male-only.  While, with the permission of the Bishop, and of the pastor, and of the celibrating priest women can perform the role in times of great need; they cannot be made Acolytes.

I spoke, personally with Bishop Francis Xavier DiLorenzo.  He affirmed the priest in the Richmond diocese may refuse to have women altar servers.  He indicated that they could also refuse to have women performing the role of Lector and refuse to have woman performing the role of Psalmist.

He encourages young men who feel their parishes should have male-only altar servers to join the priesthood, and make that the case in their own parish.