why do catholics call their minister/priest" Father"?

Question

I thought that the bible teaches us to know God's ways and that we call him only Father?

Answer 1

I am confused by almost all of the Catholic religion teachings. It seems to divert attention away from Jesus in many ways. Calling a priest Father is just one of the ways. Spiritual leaders should encourage independence from man and dependence on God. Bottom line is God desires relationship with us. He did not intend to make that difficult or confusing...that is man's doing. There is only one Father and I feel it is disrespectful to our Heavenly Father refer to a spiritual leader as father...sounds cult -like to me. I am a former Catholic.

Answer 2

Oh gosh, I was given the funniest poem by someone about this...

Two reasons: Representation of G, and the following the authority of the church before the ties of biological family. Since the priest is the leader of the earthly "family in God" of the parish, what is the appropriate term for that role.

NB, though, that it also applies to some Anglican priests.

Answer 3

The bible does teach us to know God's ways. Catholics do call their priests Father. It is not intended to replace God in any way, shape or form. It is simply meant as a term of respect and comes from an old Aramaic word used around the time of Jesus. (pardon my lapse in memory, but I can't remember what that is!!!!!!) Hope that this helps you understand us Catholics better, because I know it can get confusing!

Answer 4

this question continually amuses the hell out of me. till Henry VIII (Anglican) and Martin Luther (Lutheran, then some 30,000 different sects, and counting) got here alongside, the Orthodox and Catholic church homes have been the Christians. there have been no others. Catholics = Christians for 2000 years. Protestants = Christians for variety of 500 years. And the only distinction between the Catholic (unique) bible and the protestant bible(s) of their multiple translations is that Martin Luther threw out the countless books the catholics had desperate to be the "stimulated understand God" returned interior the Council of Nicea interior the 4th century. All protestant bibles are derived from this unique source. i'm no longer even going to the touch the "what catholics do isn't interior the bible" one. The Trinity isn't interior the bible. "unique Sin" isn't interior the bible, that became invented with the aid of Augustine (a catholic theologian) interior the 4th-5th century. The Rapture isn't interior the bible. The bible for sure states Jesus is the "son" of "god" in some places, it rather is declared that the bible additionally says Jesus IS "god" someplace else and the protestants are nevertheless struggling with over that. that is rather not a protection of the catholics, with the aid of the way. i'm agnostic, i think of all you adult adult males are struggling with over a impressive style of made-up stuff without evidence. yet, in case you will combat among yourselves, please a minimum of attempt to get your historic info right away and your dogmas wisely pointed out as to source. in any different case, you basically make yourselves seem ridiculous. advantages on your adventure!

Answer 5

The fact is, there is no scripture to support this hideous behavior. The Lord's Prayer starts "Our Father." It seems like a herotic practice. The next thing they will do is call on Father Satan.

Please click this web site. You will be amazed.
http://www.amaluxherbal.com/the_scandals_of_the_catholic_church.htm

With the greatest praise for Jesus Christ

Answer 6

Scripture Quotes:

Old Testament:
* Joseph: "So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt" - (Gen. 45:8)
* Job: "I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know" (Job 29:16)
* God himself says: "In that day I will call my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah . . . and I will clothe him with [a] robe, and will bind [a] girdle on him, and will commit . . . authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah" (Is. 22:20–21)

New Testament:
* St. Stephen: "And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran" (Act. 7:2)
* St. Paul: "And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac" (Rom. 9:10)
* St. Paul: "I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (1 Cor. 4:14–15)
* Peter followed the same custom, referring to Mark as his son: "She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark" (1 Pet. 5:13)
* St. Paul: "No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth" (3 John 1:4)

Answer 7

there is one verse where jesus says to call no man father,however if you notice that one commandment tells us to honor our FATHER and mother,is jesus contradicting himself?no,you need only take the verse in context and what message jesus was presenting at the time. jesus was chastising the rabbis(teachers) and demonstrating that god alone is our true father/teacher. by the text we could not call our school teachers etc teacher,or call a doctor by the term doctor etc...........for a better explanation than i have offered and with the scriptural support you can find it at scripturecatholic.com.

Answer 8

Matthew 23:6-9 reads, "They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven."

Are we also not to call anyone "teacher" or "doctor" which is how "rabbi' would translate?

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 9

We do that to tick off protestants, who only believe the literal text of the Bible when it suits their own purposes.

When are you planning to pluck out that eye, and chop off that hand?

Answer 10

Because they are our spiritual fathers, like St. Paul, who wrote, "For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel." (1 Corinthians 4:15)