Q. 1. During the Holy Mass, is anyone, the priest or the readers, allowed to change the gender reference in the Scripture Readings?

A. 1. The Catholic Church does not permit anyone to change gender related language while reading Scripture. This include the eliminating of male references. The Catholic Code of Canon Law states:

# 846 §1. "In celebrating the sacraments the liturgical books approved by competent authority are to be observed faithfully; accordingly, no one is to add, omit, or alter anything in them on one’s own authority."

# 846 §2. "The minister (meaning the 'priest') is to celebrate the sacraments according to the minister’s own rite."