So why do catholics call the priest Father?
2006-11-01 17:03:37 · 11 answers · asked by bboyballer112 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because they do not follow the entire truth. I believe that Jesus said that very thing somewhat specially for the Catholics who He knew would come.
2006-11-01 17:07:05 · answer #1 · answered by Free Ranger 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because they don't know the truth from the Bible. RGOERGI refuses to look at the context of Matt. 23:9. If he did, then he would see that Jesus was talking about not calling people father in a SPIRITUAL sense, not a fleshly sense. It is true that Paul became a spiritual father to his fellow Christians, but there is no record of anyone calling him Father Paul. This goes to show that people are going to do what they want, regardless of what the Bible says.
2006-11-02 01:22:27 · answer #2 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You have an excellent point there.
It is because they are following a doctrine other than the bible. Catholicism is a religion. Christianity is a relationship with Christ.
No offense meant to anyone here, but I hope that everyone concerned with this will study the bible for themselves.
In Mark 7: 6-7 This people honors Me with their lips but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God you hold the tradition of men.
here is a link to more info:
http://www.reachingcatholics.org/mainpage.html
2006-11-02 01:36:17 · answer #3 · answered by redeemed 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I feel that rgoergi said it best. St. Paul calls the Corinthians "my beloved children...for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel." St. Paul became their spiritual father because he cooperated with God in giving them spiritual life, just like priests cooperate with God in giving spiritual life to their flock by preaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments.
God bless,
Stanbo
2006-11-02 01:20:49 · answer #4 · answered by Stanbo 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
So its like one big happy family..you get to pray a Mother, you call the nuns Sisters, and the monks Brothers, of course someone needs to play the role of the Father
2006-11-02 01:09:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Matthew 23:9, "And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in Heaven." Notice, however, that this makes no distinction between spiritual fathers, which is what our priests are to us, and biological fathers. In other words, if you interpret this passage to say, absolutely, that no man is to be called father, you cannot distinguish between calling a priest, father, and calling the man who is married to your mother, father.
But, is that actually what this passage is saying? Or is Jesus warning us against trying to usurp the fatherhood of God? Which, in many ways, is what the Pharisees and Scribes were doing. They wanted all attention focused on them...they were leaving God, the Father, out of the equation. Which is why Jesus goes on to call them hypocrites, liars, and whitewashed tombs.
If you interpret this passage from Matthew 23 as an absolute ban against calling anyone your spiritual father, then there are some problems for you in the rest of Scripture. For example, Jesus, in the story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16, has the rich man referring to Abraham as "father" several times. Paul, in Romans chapter 4, refers to Abraham as the "father" of the uncircumcised, the Gentiles. That's referring to spiritual fatherhood, not biological fatherhood.
In Acts 7:1-2, the first Christian martyr, Stephen, referred to the Jewish authorities and elders who were about to stone him as brothers and "fathers," as does Paul in Acts, chapter 22. This is referring to spiritual fatherhood. So, if you interpret Matthew 23 as saying we cannot call anyone our spiritual father, then you have a problem with Jesus, Paul, Stephen, and the Holy Spirit...they must have all gotten it wrong.
It is okay to call priests "father", just as it was okay for Jesus and Paul to call Abraham "father" and for Stephen and Paul to call the Jewish elders "father." As long as we remember that our true Father is God the Father and that all aspects of fatherhood, biological and spiritual, are derived from Him. And as long as we do not allow anyone else to usurp that role in any way, shape, or form, as the Pharisees and Scribes were prone to do.
2006-11-02 01:05:00 · answer #6 · answered by Life 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Not only do they call the pope Father, but Holy Father, a title for God alone. They do many things that are against the teachings of Scripture.
2006-11-02 01:09:15 · answer #7 · answered by G3 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
God is the only one we should call Father. Where does it say one man? I thought it said no man.
2006-11-02 01:08:11 · answer #8 · answered by shepherd 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Tough question. I know some fine African Christians who wanted to start calling me their spiritual father. I have even cut off calling my dad that.
2006-11-02 01:08:42 · answer #9 · answered by Joe Cool 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
why does anyone call there dad father/dad isn't i hear other christians say dad/father all the time... i think someones being a little hyprocitical.
2006-11-02 01:07:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋