Priests

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dylkow

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Another thing that had me wondering was this. God said that no other man shall be referred to as “Father”, yet we call our priests “Father”. Why do we, as Catholics, do this? Is it wrong?
 
dylkow said:
Another thing that had me wondering was this. God said that no other man shall be referred to as “Father”, yet we call our priests “Father”. Why do we, as Catholics, do this? Is it wrong?
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Jesus was meaning that we are not to put our parents, our teachers, or our religious leaders in the place of God - that we are to realize that our father is God’s son; that our teacher is God’s student, and that our religious leader is God’s disciple (learner) - and that none of these people are to take God’s place in our lives.

Jesus often called other men “Father” - and we can, too.

It’s also important to realize that when we call a priest “Father,” that’s not his actual title. His title is “Reverend” or “Doctor,” depending on his level of education.

We call our priests “Father” as a term of affection, because they are the “head” of our spiritual “household.”
 
dylkow said:
Another thing that had me wondering was this. God said that no other man shall be referred to as “Father”, yet we call our priests “Father”. Why do we, as Catholics, do this? Is it wrong?
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Dylkow, we call the priest “Father” because as your earthly father generates you, helps to raise you, nourish you, protect you, teach you, etc. the priest (in persona Christi-) on behalf of God (that is in the visible) spiritually feeds, teaches, protects, (sacraments) etc and prepares you for Eternal Life. Jesus left visible representatives so that they could"manage" his church and people. The priest, bishop, Pope are those visible representatives
Together with your own parents they work to help you reach heaven.
God Bless
Grace Angel.
 
kell0618 said:
Hello and welcome to the forum!

This issue is brought up quite frequently and I often wonder what people call their male parents if they are so literal that they may call no one father.
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I’ve always had the same question, but as yet, haven’t the opportunity to ask someone. 😉
 
Karl Keating wrote a great article on this (no, I’m not sucking up, Karl), but I can’t find it at the time.

It seems that most of our SS brethren called their pastors “Father” all the way up to the late 1800’s. What made them quit? Those darn Irish Catholics were calling their priests Father, and it turned them off.
 
1 Cor 4:15 I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel
Matt 19:19 honor your father and mother
Acts 7:2 St. Stephen calls Jewish leaders fathers
Acts 22:1 St. Paul calls Jews in Jerusalem fathers
1 Thess 2:11 treated each…of you as a father treats his children
1 John 2:13 I am writing to you fathers
Heb 12:9 we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us
 
Thanks again guys. I always have these questions in my head and I never know whats what. You guys really help.
 
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