Why do Catholic's call their priest's "father"?

Question

Jesus said ; Mathew 23;9 And do not call anyone on Earth father,for you have one father and he is in Heaven.(NIV)

Answer 1

they really should change that. calling someone other than either God or your biological father, father.

Answer 2

Because they promote as doctrine entirely of men and that rather than preach Salvation they are more concern with overcoming Proud Tradition.

“‘Do not go beyond the things that are written,’ in order that you may not be puffed up individually in favor of the one against the other. For who makes you to differ from another? Indeed, what do you have that you did not receive? If, now, you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”—1 Cor. 4:6, 7.

As YOU have sited above scripture (Matthew 23:9) might raise a further question in your mind. It records Jesus’ statement: “Call none your father upon earth: for one is your father, who is in heaven.” (Dy) A priest might tell you that Catholics “are surprised that non-Catholics should quibble when they call their priests ‘Father’—when non-Catholics address their own male parent as ‘Father.’” But if you had read Jesus’ statement for yourself you would know that Jesus was not talking about what you call your male parent, but was talking about what you call your religious leader! Would it shock you to read in your Bible that Jesus himself forbade his followers to use such titles?

Answer 3

We only have one Father in Heaven, that is God. We call our priests father because they are our spiritual fathers here, just, as St Paul says, Abraham was the spiritual father of all Jews. Jesus himself referred to Father Abraham in the story of the rich man and Lazarous.
By the way, why have you selected that part of the passage to comment on when it also states, 'do not call anyone teacher"? When you were at school did you call your teacher "teacher"?

Answer 4

That's a good question when you think about it. I went to catholic school (but that was MANY years ago), and if I remember right, it was simply a "representative title" in that he was the "father of the flock", much the same as the communion wafer was representative of the body of Christ. Also, supposedly he is the stand-in to the heavenly Father which is why Catholics confess to him, which I also never understood.

Answer 5

I once made the mistake of marrying a catholic, and according to him, the priests are called "father" because they represent God, the Father on earth. They are given in the church the same capabilities of God, ie, forgiving sins, blessings, etc. They are divine representatives of Diety. So they are called "Father" to show their oneness with God.

Answer 6

You aren't to call anyone on earth "Father" in the same way you call God father. I am not Catholic, but my dad is my father, but not THE Father.

I believe that is the difference.

Answer 7

In context, the Scripture reads, "... And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."

This is call for humility for those in leadership roles. Not to be taken literally.

We are not to deny our male parent and cut the Commandment to honor our father and mother in half.

Some leaders in any church may fall into the same folly as the pharisees of Jesus' day.

With love in Christ.

Answer 8

because the priests represent God's humble servants and that they only serve as a human spiritual medium, between our world and God's kingdom.

Answer 9

Well said Palamino and Paj. We need guys like you to neutralize the ignorance.

Answer 10

they also pray to mary where the bible says to him and him alone u must pray while some catholics say they dont pray to mary but use her as a vessal to pray to god jesus also said to that no one gets to the father except through me