In a recent interview with the New Emangelization Project, Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke stated that the inclusion of altar girls reduces the participation rates of boys which ultimately reduces vocations to the priesthood.

Cardinal Burke also suggested that among the complex set of reasons for the Catholic “man-crisis”, radical feminism has had a corrosive effect on society and the Church, pitting women against men.

While His Eminence’s comments about the negative impact of radical feminism (note, please, the modifier: radical. His Eminence said nothing about the suppression of legitimate aspirations of women) represented less that 1/5 of His Eminence’s interview, a large portion of the response has distorted and sought to denigrate the Cardinal for misogyny.

Ironically, the radical feminist reaction that distorted, confused, misinterpreted, slandered and lied about His Eminence’s comments, prove his point: Radical feminism is corrosive in the world and on the Church.

What’s been lacking from much of the reporting has been both charity and reason. A charitable and reasonable person, a person not blinded by their ideology, can actually assess statements such as the Cardinal has said for its accuracy. Charity gives the benefit of a doubt, with gentleness and kindness, without compromising a healthy skepticism. Reason allows an honest and objective engagement in what is actually being stated and applies facts, analysis and logic to assess a point of view.

So, charitably, what can reason tell us about the impact of altar girls on boys and priestly vocations?

Brian Williams over at the Liturgy Guy has done a good job at pulling together an analysis about the impact of altar girls on the participation of boys in altar service and how altar service for young men are linked to vocations. To be clear, this is not the be-all, end-all analysis, but it is what is available now. Not opinion, not hysteria, but facts and analysis. The application of reason.

Side note: open invitation to those who can charitably offer other facts/analysis.

Top line according to the Liturgy Guy?: Cardinal Burke is right: Altar Girls do reduce Priestly vocations.

Here’s what the “LiturgyGuy” has to say (by the way, Liturgy Guy, congrats for using both charity and reason to make your points):