Altar Servers in The Catholic Church
Formerly, only men and boys could serve at the altar, but canon 230 of the Code of Canon Law promulgated in 1983 allowed local ordinaries to permit girls and women to do so (see Female altar servers). In the United States, the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska has not granted permission. The priest in charge of a church is not obliged to avail of the permission, where granted. Traditionalist Catholic groups such as the FSSP and the Institute of Christ the King and some individual priests do not. The practice is also not accepted by those who act independently of the diocesan bishops, as is the case with the SSPX.
The term "acolyte" is sometimes applied to altar servers, but in the proper sense means someone who has been received the ministry of that name, usually reserved for those who are to be promoted to the permanent or transitory diaconate. These must receive the ministry of acolyte, which historically was classified as a minor order, at least six months before being ordained as deacons.
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