Addressing a priest with a PhD

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The deacon in our Ruathan (sp?) rite church wants to be addressed as “Father Deacon <>.” I’m not a member of the community, but I do as he wishes even though I would rather reserve the title Father for the priest.
 
kaygee said:
Depends.

Academic context . . . Dr. in a secular setting unless he specifies otherwise. . . Father in a seminary/church university setting.
Any other context . . . Father
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This is really good advice. My daughter goes to a Catholic University and she has had several Priests as Professors. I noticed in the syllabus that the professor listed was Dr. so and so. I asked her about how this class was not taught by a Priest. She told me that they list the teacher as a Dr. in the syllabus, class schedule, etc. as not everyone is Catholic. At the beginning of the class, the Professor Doctor Priest asked the students to refer to him as Dr. in class but he encourages them (esp. the Catholic students) to refer to him as Father in private.
 
kaygee said:
Depends.

Academic context . . . Dr. in a secular setting unless he specifies otherwise. . . Father in a seminary/church university setting.
Any other context . . . Father
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I had a professor in grad school who was a priest, and who very much disliked being called “Father” in class. In recent encounters with him, I’ve tended to call him “Father” since we no longer have a professional relationship (he recently retired and I have now finished my Ph.D).

Edwin
 
From what I understand, you address someone by their highest title (all men are Mr, but some also have the title Dr, and that takes presidence)
so… Deacons are "Reverend " in formal written address and “Deacon” personal address.

But for priests, it is “reverend father” and “Father” because Priest >> Professor.
 
People with a doctor degree go for a dime/dozen. You just need to pass some tests given to you by your future peers.
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Wow, talk about an offensive post. What an insult to those of us who gave/are giving/gave up years of our lives taking rigorous classes, carrying out intensive research, pouring out our hearts and minds writing dissertations, and being examined by various individuals and boards.

I realize that there are a few diploma mills out there, but most who hold doctorates spent years of hard work getting there. Considering that doctoral degrees make up only one percent of the U.S. population, I would say that a doctorate is quite a distinction. :hmmm:
 
A regular angel, perhaps, but an arch angel. I don’t know, they are cannonized or is there a different word for the process of angels being considered saints? I think one would be better off greeting the arch angel first.
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:confused:
 
Many of our priests have doctorates…philosophy, theology,…canon law…etc. Bishops have D.D., Doctor of Divinity, after their names.
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Bishops only have D.D. if they have been awarded that degree. Many have it, while others have doctorates in sacred theology (S.T.D.) or canon law (J.C.D. or D.Lll.) A handful have no doctorate.
 
Chatter163 said:
Wow, talk about an offensive post. What an insult to those of us who gave/are giving/gave up years of our lives taking rigorous classes, carrying out intensive research, pouring out our hearts and minds writing dissertations, and being examined by various individuals and boards.

I realize that there are a few diploma mills out there, but most who hold doctorates spent years of hard work getting there. Considering that doctoral degrees make up only one percent of the U.S. population, I would say that a doctorate is quite a distinction. :hmmm:
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I apologize if I insulted you. I always worked in an environment where 90% of the people have a doctor degree, and usually those that ask to be addressed as doctors are considered snobs toward the other 10%. In my lifetime I met a lot of people with doctor degrees, including from Ivy League schools, that are less functional than a smart technician.

The problem is that since I was a kid I have been brainwashed that a doctor degree was the minimum requirement for my education, and so now I think that I just did the bare minimum.
I always had the privilege of a family that stressed and supported the need for the highest level of education. You are right I really have to acknowledge those who did not have the same privileges and got a degree anyway.
 
Chatter163 said:
Wow, talk about an offensive post. What an insult to those of us who gave/are giving/gave up years of our lives taking rigorous classes, carrying out intensive research, pouring out our hearts and minds writing dissertations, and being examined by various individuals and boards.

I realize that there are a few diploma mills out there, but most who hold doctorates spent years of hard work getting there. Considering that doctoral degrees make up only one percent of the U.S. population, I would say that a doctorate is quite a distinction. :hmmm:
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Thanks, Chatter. This made me angry as well. I’m in a PhD program and I’m consistently amazed at how much time and effort the students and faculty put into the degree programs. I’ve never worked this hard at something, I feel continuously blessed to have the experience, and considering that I will be the only person in my entire family to achieve such a distinction, I agree, they can’t possibly be that common.
 
SeekerJen said:
Thanks, Chatter. This made me angry as well. I’m in a PhD program and I’m consistently amazed at how much time and effort the students and faculty put into the degree programs. I’ve never worked this hard at something, I feel continuously blessed to have the experience, and considering that I will be the only person in my entire family to achieve such a distinction, I agree, they can’t possibly be that common.
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Same here. I’m in the middle of a tough dissertation for my doctorate degree in management. It’s no joke studying for a doctorate, and I need to spend good money and time.

I sure would hate to be called a dime a dozen.
 
Chatter163 said:
Bishops only have D.D. if they have been awarded that degree. Many have it, while others have doctorates in sacred theology (S.T.D.) or canon law (J.C.D. or D.Lll.) A handful have no doctorate.
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Unless I’m mistaken, the D.D. is automatically conferred on all new bishops.
 
I confess that I do not know. I’ve asked the “Ask an Apologist” to clarify. I do know that the D.D. is almost universally an honorary degree- the D.Min.or Th.D. or S.T.L. (on the way to the S.T.D.) or even a secular Ph.D. could all be the next step after the M.Div. for people who want to pursue a doctoral degree in theology or ministry.
 
D.D. are degrees awarded by universities and seminaries. Like all degrees, they are sometimes awarded on an honorary basis, but bishops have them only if awarded by an institute of higher learning.
 
Cactus said:
My thinking is that PhD’s are plentiful, commonplace (not quite a dime a dozen) and not an especially rare achievement in this day of overpopulated graduate schools. To be a priest, however, is quite another matter. In comparison to PhDs, they are far less plentiful. I am reminded of a saint (Francis, I think) who when asked if he were to meet on the street an archangel or a priest, whom would he greet first. He answered the priest because he had the greater dignity.
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Overpopulated graduate schools? I would rather have that than to have people go uneducated. I would prefer overeducation and more opportunities than undereducation and less opportunites. We should be pleased that more, rather than less, people have these opportunities. The worth of these degrees is not based merely on how many people possess them.

That being said, in my opinion the ecclesiastical titles are more important because ordination comes from above. We need to show respect for the ministers which the Lord has chosen. Academic degrees and schooling systems are an invention of humans.

Finally, a deacon is always properly adressed as “Deacon”, “Deacon Father”, “Father Deacon” or perhaps, “Reverend Deacon”, regardless of doctorate held (or not), unless the deacon says otherwise (as stated above, ordination comes from above). We need to show respect for the clergy.

As for written titles, consider the other posts above.
 
The principal of the Catholic high school I work at has a PhD. We still address him as Father.

Beth
 
Caesar said:
Do I address a priest with a PhD as Doctor or Father?
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Father (and steer clear of any priests with PhD’s who prefer to be called Dr.- their vocation to the priesthood should be their most important one)
People with a doctor degree go for a dime/dozen. You just need to pass some tests given to you by your future peers.
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(I don’t remember who said this). I suspect you have not tried to get a Ph.D. You don’t just have to pass some tests. The tests you do have to pass are very difficult, you have to write a dissertation that is very difficult- and present it to a committee (you have to defend it in front of them). If not a dissertation, then a difficult internship (for medicine/Psy.D.), or a couple of recitals, or compositions, or exhibits, or productions (Music, Theatre, Art, Dance, etc.)
 
Actually, I believe Bishop Sheen was addressed as Doctor Sheen in his younger days as a priest. There is a story in his autobiography that indicates that. So the custom of always addressing priests as Father may be relatively recent. I remember watching a movie on the live of Vincent DePaul and he was referred to as “Mr DePaul”.
 
Evan said:
The deacon in our Ruathan (sp?) rite church wants to be addressed as “Father Deacon <>.” I’m not a member of the community, but I do as he wishes even though I would rather reserve the title Father for the priest.
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Father Deacon, especially in a Ruthenian parish, is the normal title for a deacon. We Latins are just not used to having them and are only recently coming to terms with them again.

I totally agree with those who say ordination takes precedence over degrees, but I wanted to get opinions on a little temptation of mine to refer to dissident professors as Dr. instead of Fr. I feel like I would have no choice but acknowledge their priesthood if they did not have a degree but when there is an alternative sign of respect I would like to point out their speaking in a secular/personal capacity and not as an agent of the Church. The traditionalist in me also says, though, that since ordination is higher I don’t get to make the call. What do you think?
 
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