WOC Responds to Misogynist Ban on Altar Girls in San Francisco Archdiocese

Contact:

Erin Saiz Hanna, 401-588-0457 or ehanna@womensordination.org

Kate McElwee, 607-724-1364 or kmcelwee@womensordination.org

Girls will no longer be allowed to serve as altar servers during Mass at Star of the Sea Church in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Reportedly, Rev. Joseph Illo will phase out altar girls because he believes there is an “intrinsic connection” between the Holy Orders and serving at the altar.

“The Women’s Ordination Conference is calling on the Archdiocese to do the right thing and prohibit Rev. Joseph Illo from barring young girls from the altar in their diocese. Around the country, young women have been lawfully serving at the altar for more than twenty years, ” said Erin Saiz Hanna, of the Women’s Ordination Conference.

Women’s Ordination Conference has issued an action alert calling its members to voice their concerns by calling the archdiocese at 415.614.5500.

“The damaging message that girls do not have a place on the altar has lasting repercussions on the minds and faith all children, and for the many families trying to keep the Church relevant in their lives,” asserted Kate McElwee.

“If young women in the San Francisco diocese want to grow up to work for the Church – or even aspire to the priesthood – I, and the vast majority of U.S. Catholics, don’t see the harm in that,” Hanna concluded.

Since 1994, the Vatican and the U.S. Bishops have allowed female altar servers. Star of the Sea Church is only parish in the Archdiocese to ban the practice. There is no restriction in Canon Law for women to assist at the altar during the liturgy.

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