Posted on 09/23/2003 7:50:20 AM PDT by presidio9
No dancing in the aisles or applause in church, please, we're Catholic. And we'd prefer altar boys to altar girls.
Those are some of the warnings contained in the draft of a document the Vatican (news - web sites) is preparing to crack down on what it considers "liturgical abuses" of the mass, the focus of Roman Catholic worship.
According to the authoritative Italian Roman Catholic monthly magazine "Jesus," a draft document urges the faithful to notify their bishop or the Vatican to report suspected abuses.
The magazine released an advance text of the article which will feature in its October edition.
If issued in its draft form, the document, known as a directive, could have wide-ranging ramifications on some worship practices that have come into common use in many developed countries, particularly the United States and in western Europe.
According to the magazine, the draft says the use of girl altar servers should be avoided "unless there is a just pastoral cause" and that "priests should never feel obliged to seek girls for this function."
The Vatican in 1994 gave individual bishops the power to decide whether to allow altar girls in their dioceses. But some conservative Catholics are against altar girls, saying their presence has eroded a traditional recruiting ground for priests.
Traditionalists have also seen altar girls as a foot in the door to a female priesthood, which the church bans.
Italian media reported that the initial reaction to the draft, circulated to the world's bishops, has been negative and the document may have to be at least partially modified.
The draft document also discourages applause during masses and "dances inside the sacred building."
Ironically, Pope John Paul (news - web sites)'s sermons during masses, even those in St Peter's Basilica, are often interrupted by applause.
Some of the pope's masses in Rome and around the world have included dancing, particularly those celebrations marking Asian, African or Latin American events.
The document, drafted by two Vatican departments which oversee doctrine and liturgy, was ordered by the pope who will eventually have to approve a final version.
The draft also warns against the use of non-Biblical language during the mass, such as readings from poets.
It discourages the practice where the faithful receive the wafer and wine at communion.
Catholics believe Christ is present in the wafer and wine but the document says it is preferable just to receive the wafer.
"Self-service" communion is also frowned upon. This appeared to be a reference to the faithful taking the consecrated host directly from the chalice instead of receiving it on their tongue from the hand of a priest.
Phantom Lord, you know how you can tell who the gays are at the St. Patrick's Day Parade?
"some conservative Catholics are against altar girls, saying their presence has eroded a traditional recruiting ground for priests. "
That tells me much more about you than it does about the comment.
1. Smaller families in the Christian World
2. Greater Economic opportunity in an increasingly urbanized society. This is why even Mexican parishes have a shortage of priests.
It is nothing more than bigotry from a hateful redneck. Any time there is a thread having anything to do with Catholicism a few prejudiced losers always feel the need to show what foul-minded children they are.
2) Clear? Hardly. There could be any number of reasons for preferring Altar Boys, particularly among traditional Christians who keep the Apostolic practice of all-male ordained priesthood. Why don't you tell us what you really meant? Are you ashamed of it?
When you post about me, I would appreciate being pinged. And I am no "bigot" or a "hateful redneck." I am also a Roman Catholic.
Unfortunatly, for too long many have ignored, and too many have endorsed the abuse of children by priests.
This is going to go over like a lead balloon in my parish. My daughter is an "altar girl" and has no inclination to become a deaconess or priestess or a marine. They can't get enough boys to serve and the girls are more punctual and reliable. I think you would have to make serving mandatory and institute a military style draft to get enough boys to serve. All are edgy about the funky priest Monahan who raped his nephew for years and is now the target of a lawsuit agains tht ediocese of KC-St.JO. Go figure.
Now that the pope is frail the "powers behind the throne" see their big chance to "take over"
Wonder what else will be coming out of the Vatican.
Next thing you know we will all be wearing hats and veils again.
This sounds like the work of "silly old poofs" who think they rule the world.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.