The bible says call no one Father(religiously speaking) but God. So how do I address a Catholic priest?

Question

I was at an event and we had a catholic priest sittitng at our table. Many people were addressing him as Father so and so. I felt I could not do this. Would a priest be disrespected if I called him Mr. or is there something else that could work.

Answer 1

I'd call him "Mr. Smith," or something like that. When I was in the Air Force (working in the chapel, of all places), I would call the priest "Chaplin Smith."

I couldn't call him "Father," because that is forbidden as a religious title (Matthew 23:9). I couldn't call him "Reverend," because I have no reason to revere him; Holy and Reverend is God's name (Psalm 111:9). I wouldn't call him 'pastor,' because Biblically, he isn't; Biblically, a pastor (or elder) must be a married man (Titus 1:6). "Padre" is Latin for "Father," forbidden for the same reason.

He'd probably understand your unwillingness to call him "Father." You're probably not the only non-Catholic he's run into.

Answer 2

Wow... good question. Believing the same as you do, but never having been in that situation, that must have been difficult. One, to not offend him, and two, not to offend the Lord.

I can't help you there... perhaps a Catholic priest could offer an alternative of what someone who cannot call him Father can call him so as not to offend or disrespect him.

Alternatively, I would ask your Pastor at church what you should have done.

Answer 3

In Mt 3:9 Jesus referred to Abraham as "Father"
After the Gospels, in Acts 7:2 Stephen addresses the court of Jewish priests as "Fathers". He was then taken out and stoned to death for his belief in Christ.

Paul also addresses Jewish leaders as "Father" in Acts.

In Romans Abraham is again called "Father of us all"

In 1 Corinthians 4:14-15, Paul tells us he became our "Father" in Christ through the Gospels.

You must read the entire episode where Jesus says, call no man father, you have but one father in heaven. He was exposing the Pharasee for false teachers and preachers, and did so in their presence where they also heard what He said.

He also said to his followers in this, to listen to the Jewish Priests, do what they say you should do.....but do not do as they do, they are corrupt.

Read it all and read it in full context.

Call the Priest Father...it is OK. Also...if we are commanded to Call No Man Father... Jesus, Stephen, Paul and many others have sinned. We too have sinned when we called our male parent Father.

Answer 4

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.

If you are still uncomfortable with calling a priest 'father,' then you can call him 'reverend.'

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

I don't believe I"ve read that scripture, can you send me the verse? I am interested to read the different interpretations.
But in that situation I would have asked the priest, it could have been a good conversation starter.

Answer 6

You could use "Reverend" and that it totally acceptable but I must say the scripture you refer to is taken out of context and yes, we Catholics address our priests as "father".

Answer 7

I would feel the same way, since the Bible says never to call any man Father except God. I don't even call my dad "Father", I call him Dad.
you could call the Preist.. "sir".

Answer 8

Catholic theology isn't approximately taking imprecise passages of the Bible, and taking them actually. Catholics believe the Bible must be study as an entire and interpreted. So your Father concern. The passage in Matthew says that one shouldn't in any respect call any guy on earth, "father." If that's to be taken with the aid of fact the literal certainty, we ought to constantly no longer call our very own organic and organic Fathers, father. in spite of the incontrovertible fact that, the Bible as an entire does not seem to reject calling one's organic and organic discern Father. I mean Exodus says to "honor your mum and dad." needless to say, in Matthew, Jesus isn't ment to be making a annoying line rejection of calling somebody father. So he must be speaking a pair of religious Father, perfect? as quickly as lower back, that's no longer consistant throughout the Bible. In Luke, Jesus has no longer something incorrect with calling Abraham his religious father. apart from, John he calls the apostles "fathers" and Acts additionally calls early Church leaders, "father". finally, in the verse of Matthew the place he says to no longer call human beings father, he additionally has Jesus asserting which you mustn't in any respect call somebody grasp, which in Greek additionally ment instructor. If we are to take Matthew actually, we ought to constantly no longer call human beings, wellbeing care expert or mister, or a type of titles. it style of feels exceptionally no longer likely that Matthew is meant to be taken actually subsequently. What Matthew seems doing is re-imposing the Jewish commandment that one ought to place now God in the previous the all-robust God. Catholics could call clergymen father, yet we dont worship dissimilar Gods, nor can we evaluate our clergymen fatherly in the comparable experience that God is the daddy.

Answer 9

In the British Army we get round this one by calling all priests Padre. It's a dago word : not sure what it means.

Answer 10

I was in a similar situation once and if my memory serves me I think I called him pastor or elder. I would not call him father or his worship because the Bible specifically states we should not do this.