| U.S. News

The foot-washing rite calls to mind the episode during the Last Supper in which Our Lord, knowing full well what was going to happen in the ensuing days, laid aside his garments, girded himself with a towel, and washed his apostles’ feet. He taught them by example how they were to exercise leadership in his church – through humble service.

In the same way, the Holy Thursday rite provides that after the homily the priest, in imitation of Christ, washes the feet of men chosen from the congregation. When done orderly and reverently, this can be a particularly moving ritual, inspiring us to enter more deeply into the sacred liturgy.

Unfortunately, in too many Holy Thursday celebrations, foot washing has become a countersign, pointing to rivalry and power, not unity and service. This happens whenever the attention is taken away from the significance of Christ’s actions and instead is focused on who is (and isn’t) getting their feet washed.

It must be candidly admitted that church authorities have opened the door to controversy through the mixed signals that have been given to the faithful and pastors alike.

The rite itself has always specified that men are to have their feet washed. The word used in Latin is viri which refers specifically to adult males, not hominess, which might have been understood, like the expression "human beings," to include both women and men.

Because of ongoing debate on this issue, the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments (CDWDS), in a 1988 circular letter entitled Paschales Solemnitatis, affirmed that the tradition of washing the feet of “chosen men” should be maintained.

Then in 1996, the U.S. bishops proposed a modification that would allow for the washing of women’s and children’s feet during the Holy Thursday service. This proposal received the necessary support of more than two-thirds of the U.S. bishops, but it still required the formal approval of the Holy See before it could take effect. Such approval has never been given. Meanwhile, the congregation published the latest edition of the Roman Missal in 2002, which still only provides for men to have their feet washed.

Not surprisingly, it’s impossible to please everyone given this ambiguity. In parishes where only men have their feet washed, some complain about the lack of inclusivity and the failure to implement a “directive” of the U.S. bishops. In parishes where women and children have their feet washed, some complain about the illicit practice, which seems to accommodate dissenting elements in the church.

There are two distinct theologies at work that facilitate this tension. The more traditional theology focuses on the vocation of the priest to serve God’s people in humility. The priest acts in the role of Jesus, while the 12 men serve in the role of the apostles. The priest’s ministry is ordered to serving the laity, and this rite reminds him of his call to serve the flock entrusted to him.

The other theology is based on the truth that all the faithful participate in the threefold mission of Christ as priest, prophet, and king. This kingship is exercised through our conquering the kingdom of sin and also through our loving acts of service and mercy. In imitation of Christ, we are all called to “wash others’ feet.”

This latter theology carries the day in most U.S dioceses, where all the faithful – men and women – are allowed to participate in the foot-washing rite. But there’s more to it than that.

There has been in the church in recent decades a relentless push toward opening roles and functions to the broadest number of people. In some contexts, this approach has fostered a greater participation in the life of the church based on our baptismal dignity. At times, however, it has also given momentum to dissident agendas as represented by groups like Call to Action and Voice of the Faithful.

Now, having one’s feet washed in the strictest sense does not require “maleness.” This function more closely resembles service as a reader or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. It is not an instance like preaching a homily or, even more, consecrating the Eucharist, where the necessity of Holy Orders results in the function being closed to women.

To all this, I’d gently offer a two-pronged response. First, I’d respectfully urge that all Catholic dioceses and parishes follow the rubrics as they presently exist, and thereby not permit the washing of women’s feet on Holy Thursday. The point of the Vatican instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum was precisely to foster a joyful adherence to liturgical norms. Even if the washing of women’s feet might be permitted someday, we do well not to impose our own preferences or agendas on the liturgy in the meantime.

Last year, Archbishop (now Cardinal) Sean O’Malley made a “pastoral decision” ...