California Catholic Church priest bans girls as altar servers

|
 January 27 2015

A Catholic priest in San Francisco has 
banned girls from acting as altar servers at
 Mass, a decision that sets his parish apart 
from all others in the archdiocese.

"Maybe the most important thing is that
 it prepares boys to consider the 
priesthood," 
he. saidThe Rev. Joseph Ill who arrived 
at the Star of the Sea Church in August, 
said he believes there is an "intrinsic 
connectionbetween the priesthood and serving at the altar - 
and because women can't be priests, it makes sense to have only altar boys, SF Gate 
reports.
The Richmond District is now the only parish in the Archdiocese of San Francisco to exclude 
girls from serving at the altar. Such a decision is "a pastor's call," said archdiocese
spokesman Chris Lyford.


Currently, only adults assist the pastor during the church's regular Masses. Altar boys and 
girls are used during the Masses held for the students at the parish's Star of the Sea School.
Girls trained to be altar girls will be allowed to continue serving, with the use of females 
phased out. Illo said he wants to get an altar boy program running for all Masses, as part of
 a larger father and sons program at the church.

He said an altar boy program would be a male bonding experience, one that helps them 
socialize and develop their leadership potential. Girls would still be allowed to perform 
readings during Mass.

Females were authorized by canon law to be altar servers some 20 years ago — or "not that
 long ago" in the 2,000-year tradition of the Holy Eucharist, Illo said.

This is not the first time Illo has drawn national attention to his parish. In 2008, as a 
Modesto priest, he said that voting for Barack Obama, who supports abortion rights, 
necessitated a trip to the confessional.

"Voting for a candidate who promises 'abortion rights,' even if he promises every 
other  good thing, is voting for abortion," Illo wrote in a letter to parishioners. "It is a
 grave mistake and probably a grave sin."