By Charles Igwe
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo has attempted to prohibit girls from serving as altar servers in his archdiocese, arguing that the role is traditionally a stepping stone to the male-only priesthood and allowing girls to serve could impact priestly vocations.
In a letter dated October 22, 2024, addressed to priests in the Archdiocese of Colombo, Ranjith stated, “It has been brought to my knowledge that several parishes in the Archdiocese of Colombo have appointed girls as altar servers.” He reaffirmed his stance from a presbyteral meeting held the previous day, emphasizing that “no girls should be invited to serve at the altar as altar servers in the archdiocese.”
The cardinal insisted that only young boys should take on the role, asserting that it is “one of the main sources of vocations to the priesthood in Sri Lanka,” and any deviation could affect the number of candidates entering seminaries. “Since females are not allowed to be ordained priests, we have to make that decision,” he wrote, warning priests that the rule was not subject to their discretion. He urged compliance, thanking them for their cooperation.
Ranjith, 77, has served as Archbishop of Colombo since 2009 and was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. Before his appointment, he held various positions in Vatican diplomacy, including as envoy to Indonesia and East Timor, adjunct secretary for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and secretary of the then-Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from 2005 to 2009.
Nicknamed the “little Ratzinger” for his conservative theological leanings, Ranjith’s directive has drawn criticism, particularly as Pope Francis officially lifted the ban on female altar servers three years ago.
In 2021, Pope Francis issued a decree formally allowing women and girls to serve as lectors and altar servers, codifying a practice that had already been common in many Western countries. His decision followed a 2016 modification of the Holy Thursday foot-washing ritual, which permitted the inclusion of women. These moves were seen by progressives as steps toward greater inclusion of women in Church life.
Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has actively advocated for greater female participation in the Church, appointing women to leadership positions in Vatican departments, his Council for the Economy, and even a commission that helps vet episcopal candidates. The role of women was also a key topic in the recently concluded Synod on Synodality and remains central to ongoing discussions on Church governance and reform.
While Pope Francis has ruled out female priestly ordination, the broader debate on expanding women’s roles in the Church continues. His 2021 decree stated that its implementation would depend on local bishops’ discernment and the specific needs of evangelization in their regions.
Ranjith’s decision reflects the conservative stance still prevalent in many parts of the Global South, where Church traditions remain more rigid compared to Western counterparts. Some theologians argue that altar servers function as formal aides to the priest, who, acting in persona Christi, must be male to validly celebrate the Eucharist.
Given Sri Lanka’s religious demographics—where Christians constitute just 7–8% of the population, most of whom are Catholic—the cardinal’s stance could be seen as an effort to preserve traditional structures within a minority faith community. Catholicism in Sri Lanka remains unique in bridging the ethnic divide between the Sinhalese and Tamil populations, with a significant presence in both groups.
Ranjith’s ban is likely to spark debate, particularly among Catholic women and progressives who view it as a setback for inclusivity. However, in his 2021 decree, Pope Francis left room for local bishops to make decisions based on their pastoral contexts—potentially giving Ranjith the authority to uphold his policy despite broader Vatican reforms.
