Traditional Mass called off after row over altar girl
By Anna Arco
23 May 2008

A traditional Latin Mass that was due to be held in Cardiff Cathedral last Sunday was cancelled at the last minute after a row broke out over a female server.

Plans for a Pontifical High Mass in the Extraordinary Form, a joint initiative between the cathedral and Latin Mass Society (LMS), which was supposed to have been celebrated by the Abbot of Belmont Abbey, were scuppered after a disagreement arose over the altar server.

Disagreements escalated during a second training session for the cathedral servers and the Dean, Canon Peter Collins, when one of the cathedral's regular female servers came to the practice. She had not been at the previous training session nor had Canon Collins.

Her presence came as a surprise to members of the Latin Mass Society who were present, as the LMS insists that its policy has always been clear about following the rubrics and laws, which govern the 1962 form of the Roman Rite. This excludes the presence of women in the Sanctuary.

John Medlin, the general manager of the LMS, said: "Our policy has been widely known for decades and we would not have gone ahead if we had thought one of the clerics involved didn't understand that."

The members of the Latin Mass Society who were present at the training session consulted with their senior master of ceremonies, the priest who was to be deacon of the Mass and the chairman of the LMS, Julian Chadwick. They felt that it was impossible for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite to be celebrated with the LMS under the circumstances.

According to Canon Collins, the Pontifical High Mass in the Extraordinary Form was originally a cathedral initiative, which had the support of the local LMS representative who advertised the Mass. The LMS helped provide its liturgical expert, Sacred Ministers who were experienced in the Extraordinary Form and vestments for the Mass.

Kingsley Lewis, the LMS's representative in Cardiff, telephoned Canon Collins the next morning to say that the LMS in conscience could not take part in the Mass if there was a female server present in the sanctuary. Neither party backed down and the Mass was cancelled.

Canon Collins said: "I'm very keen on finding another opportunity for having a Mass in the Extraordinary Form because I think it's important especially for a cathedral to have it.

"I had no agenda, and no assumptions that it would be a problem that our normal servers would participate plus the extra servers supplied by the Latin Mass Society. There was one practice that went on in my absence. Our MC at the cathedral felt that we needed another practice, which was the practice on the Thursday and when our lady server turned up, the expressions on the faces said everything.

"I'm unclear as to whether Rome has an opinion on the rubrics of the Extraordinary Form and whether it would prohibit the presence of lady servers, but I will seek clarification on that matter. The Latin Mass Society believes that the rubrics of the 1962 Missal apply, which would exclude women servers, but I'm open to clarification and fully in favour of the Extraordinary Form."

The Mass had been advertised by the LMS, and although the society put a notice up on its website advising the faithful that the Sunday Mass would not be in the Extraordinary Form, they were unable to contact a large number of the people there.

"The Latin Mass Society is extremely disappointed that the Mass was cancelled as a result of this, especially as there was no way of letting the faithful know," said Mr Medlin.

Canon Collins said: "It's been unfortunate, and I'm sorry that people have felt so injured and think that my interpretation of the rubrics is wrong, but as I've said, I am open to clarification from Rome." Although the LMS was disappointed with the situation, Mr Medlin said that the society would be happy to help with a traditional Latin Mass in Cardiff Cathedral as long as its position on the rubrics of the 1962 Mass was recognised.

Since Pope Benedict XVI published the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum which lifted restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass last year, a number of questions about the two forms of the Roman Rite have arisen. It has been reported that the Ecclesia Dei Commission is working on a document clarifying the Motu Proprio though the details of its release remains unclear.

Female altar servers were authorised by the Vatican retroactively in 1994 - so in accordance with Canon Law 230 - that Liturgical services may be carried out by lay people ex temporananea deputatione, according to the judgment of the bishop and where the needs of the Church require it. Permission was given as many parishes were already using girl altar servers. In 2001 Rome issued a clarification, saying that while bishops could give permission for female altar server, they could not force a priest to have women as servers.