Different names between religions

[taboogle]

Sorry if I put this under the wrong category on here but I wasn’t sure where should go. Can someone explain why us Catholics call the priest Father while other religions use other names such as pastor or reverend. Are these words interchangeable? Thanks!

 

[Todd977]

Arguments for and against the practice are discussed in the Catholic Answers’ article, “Call No Man 'Father.’”

 

[Todd977]

As to the question of ecclesiastical address, the answer really varies from religion to religion, from country to country, and whether you are addressing someone in writing or in speech. If you are in the U.S., this link might help, Catholic Forms of Address Recognized in the United States.

Wikipedia articles that might help: “Ecclesiastical address”, “The Reverend.”

I think, in the Catholic Church the title “pastor” technically refers to those assigned the care of a specific portion of the people of God, such as the priest in charge of a parish. Not all priests have such pastoral assignments and so would not technically qualify as pastors.

 

[Phemie]

I think, in the Catholic Church the title “pastor” technically refers to those assigned the care of a specific portion of the people of God, such as the priest in charge of a parish. Not all priests have such pastoral assignments and so would not technically qualify as pastors.

Yes, Pastor is a specific designation in Canon Law. For example, we presently have an administrator assigned to our parish, not a Pastor. He’s more limited in his decision-making authority and can be moved more often.

I remember having a visitor drop by the office, someone from another country who just wanted to touch base with the local Catholic priest while he was in town. I introduced Fr. Clarence as our Pastor, triggering a puzzled look from the guest. After he’d had his chat he stopped by the office to make sure that we were, in fact, a proper Catholic church because to him the term “Pastor” was very much a Protestant term. I believe in England they would use the term “Parish Priest” rather than “Pastor”.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Catholics do use the terms reverend and pastor. The address “Father” for diocesan priests is generally only used in English speaking countries. In most countries, only members of religious orders are addressed as “Father.”

The essential difference between the Catholic/Orthodox and Protestant clergy is this: The Protestant minister is a layman; the priest/presbyter/bishop has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Protestants generally believe in the “priesthood of all believers,” the idea that a sacramental priesthood is unnecessary. Catholics and Orthodox believe that all seven sacraments were instituted by Christ and must be preserved.

 

[Phemie]

Catholics do use the terms reverend and pastor. The address “Father” for diocesan priests is generally only used in English speaking countries. In most countries, only members of religious orders are addressed as “Father.”

In French Canada we address priests as Père (Father), regardless of wheter they are diocesan or religious.