(ZENIT News / Rome, 19.12.2024).- In a measure that has sparked debate in the Catholic Church, Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, has prohibited the participation of girls as altar servers in the parishes of his Archdiocese in Sri Lanka. According to the Prelate, the decision, formalized in a Letter dated October 22, 2024, responds to the need to protect priestly vocations, which depend exclusively on men.
A Return to Disputed Traditions
Cardinal Ranjith justifies his decision arguing that service at the altar is one of the main sources of vocations to the priesthood, a vocation reserved strictly for men in the Catholic Church. According to Cardinal Ranjith, to allow girls to serve at the altar could “affect the number of candidates that enter the Seminaries, a risk we cannot run.”
With this position, the Cardinal reinforces a historical tradition that, until the end of the 20th century, had excluded women from liturgical service. This exclusion, supported for centuries by Popes such as Benedict XIV and other ecclesiastical leaders, was modified in the decade of the 1990s under the pontificate of Saint John Paul II who allowed the inclusion of women as Ministers of the Altar.
Vocations and Exclusion: Necessity or Setback?
The Cardinal’s measure has unleashed questions on the relationship between masculine exclusivity in certain liturgical roles and the fostering of vocations. Although the Cardinal’s argument emphasizes the importance of protecting a source of candidates to the priesthood, it also poses questions about inclusion and women’s role in the Church.
For some sectors, limiting liturgical service to young men reinforces a hierarchical and excluding vision that could alienate women from a more active participation in the life of the Church. For others, it’s about a pragmatic decision in a context where priestly vocations are in decline, particularly in countries such as Sri Lanka.
Weight of The Historical Precedent
Although the tradition of excluding women from the altar has deep roots, its opening during Saint John Paul II’s pontificate was seen as a significant step to greater inclusion. The Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts also interpreted canon 230 paragraph 2 of the Code of Canon Law to allow this practice, marking an important change in liturgical norms.
However, Cardinal Ranjith’s decision seems to go in the opposite sense, prioritizing the local need of vocations over a global vision of equality of participation.
Implications for the Church and the Laity
Beyond the immediate impact on Colombo’s parishes, this measure highlights the persistent tensions in the Catholic Church regarding women’s role in its structures. The exclusion of girls as altar servers not only affects their participation in the liturgy, but also transmits a message on their place in ecclesial life.
At a time when Pope Francis and others leaders have advocated for a greater inclusion of women in leadership roles and consultation inside the Church, this decision poses a striking contrast.
