SAN FRANCISCO, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – It’s back to the 16th Century for one Catholic Church parish in San Francisco, while nuns are  marching into the 22nd century.

The Star of the Sea Church, located on Ninth and Geary streets, said it will not have girls as altar servers, and its priest behind the policy is coming under fire.

Father Josephy Illo, who came to the church about six months ago from Los Angeles, told NBC Bay Area News:

“We’d like to get back to an altar boy program, which is a proven, effective way to promoting vocations to the priesthood,” Father Illo said. “So boys get closer to the altar, and as you know, the Catholic church does not ordain women.”

Many parents in the parish are outraged, and so are nuns living in and around San Francisco.

The nuns are reportedly mobilizing and planning for a hundred thousand march to protest the new policy. “It’s bad enough that we cannot be ordained as priests. Now we (meaning females) can’t even serve at the altar,” Sister Perpetual said.  She and her locally-based congregation plan to hold nightly vigils starting today at the church until the new policy is reversed.

In addition, the nuns plan to chain themselves to Muni buses, especially the No. 38 bus which runs the Geary Street route.

The San Francisco Police Department advised commuters on the Geary Street route to plan for alternative ways to get to school or work.