S.f. Catholic Church Priest Bans Girls As Altar Servers

A Catholic priest, new to San Francisco and no stranger to controversy, has banned girls from acting as altar servers at Mass, a decision that sets his parish apart from all others in the archdiocese. The Rev. Joseph Illo, pastor at Star of the Sea Church since August, said he believes there is an “intrinsic connection” between the priesthood and serving at the altar — and because women can’t be priests, it makes sense to have only altar boys. [...] the decision has rankled some people at the church and its school, where some, but not all parents and students disagreed with the move, said parent Nancy Bye, who serves as liaison between the school and the parish. Illo said he wants to get an altar boy program up and running for all masses, as part of a larger father and sons program at the church. An altar boy program would be a male bonding experience, one that helps them socialize and develop their leadership potential, Illo said. Females were authorized by canon law to be altar servers about 20 years ago — or “not that long ago” in the 2,000-year tradition of the Holy Eucharist, Illo said. In 2008, as a Modesto priest, he said that voting for Barack Obama, who supports abortion rights, required 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.