September 24, 2003

WOC Responds to Vatican Proposal

Wednesday’s Washington Post ran a story about a new Vatican proposal to “crack down on ‘abuses’ in the Roman Catholic Mass.” The Vatican is drafting new rules saying “altar boys will be given preference over altar girls, who should serve during the rites only in special cases” and girls should “serve at the altar only when there is an unspecified ‘just pastoral cause’.” The Vatican document also states, “Priests should never feel obligated to seek out girls for this function.

To view the complete Post article, go to:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54487-2003Sep23.html

Below is a press release from the Women’s Ordination Conference. Show your support by:

1. Passing this press release on to your local media contacts, especially reporters who have covered the issue of women’s ordination in the past.
2. Writing a letter to your own bishop telling him you do not want this proposal to become a reality. Tell him you support altar girls as well as lay voices on the altar, ecumenical efforts, and freedom in our liturgy.
3. Forwarding this e-mail to your friends and family who support reform in the Catholic Church.

____________________
For Immediate Release
Contact: Genevieve D. Chavez, 505-649-5479
Date: September 24, 2003

Women's Ordination Conference Supports “Altar Girls”

Fairfax, VA - In 1994 the Vatican opened the door for young girls to serve on the altar. The Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) applauded this move as one step towards equality in the church. Now the Vatican wants to take a step back in time and nearly eliminate the basic right for girls to be altar servers.

Wednesday's Washington Post ran a story about the Vatican’s proposal to “crack down on ‘abuses’ in the Roman Catholic Mass.” The Vatican is drafting new rules saying “altar boys will be given preference over altar girls, who should serve during the rites only in special cases” and girls should “serve at the altar only when there is an unspecified ‘just pastoral cause’.” The Vatican document also states, “Priests should never feel obligated to seek out girls for this function.”

WOC is outraged by this latest Vatican proposal. Genevieve Chavez, WOC’s Executive Director said, “Allowing girls to serve on the altar is one compelling way to help end gender discrimination in the sanctuary. It gives girls an affirmation both from the pews and at the altar, that they are included.”

Although the Vatican officials site concerns that allowing altar girls will lead to a female priesthood as one reason to prohibit altar girls, Pope John Paul II himself believes service at the alter actually encourages vocations for both boys and girls. In 2001 speaking to a group of altar servers, the Holy Father addressed the altar girls and said, “Isn't it possible that the Lord is calling one or another of you girls to embrace the consecrated life in order to serve the church and your brothers and sisters?''

Other proposed crackdowns include no lay leaders delivering homilies which the Vatican says “usurps the role of priests,” no pan-religious participation in the mass, and no clapping and dancing during church services.

“The Vatican is obviously trying to assert its power, taking away the few freedoms that lay Catholics have in our church. This proposal exhibits a reversal in the gains made at Vatican II and demonstrate yet one more example of the Vatican’s institutional sin of sexism,” said Chavez. “It is way past time for the church hierarchy to acknowledge the gifts of all lay Catholics, women and men, young and old!”

The Women's Ordination Conference is a twenty-eight-year-old nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, VA, working for equality in all dimensions of ministry in the Roman Catholic Church. Specifically, Women's Ordination Conference supports women's ordination to the priesthood in a renewed church that is compassionate, inclusive and empowering toward all people. The organization can be reached at 703-352-1006, 505-649-5479 or www.womensordination.org.

 

*** This ACTION ALERT E-MAIL is from the Women's Ordination Conference. Send comments or information for future ACTION ALERTS to Joy Barnes, WOC Program Director at grassroots@womensordination.org. For more information about WOC and how to become a WOC member, visit www.womensordination.org. ***