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To sum up in a few brief sentences the titles of a Catholic Priest:

He is a king, reigning not over unwilling subjects, but over the hearts and affections of his people.

His spiritual children pay him not only the tribute of their money, but also the tribute of their love which royalty can neither purchase nor exact.

He is a shepherd, because he leads his flock into the delicious pastures of the Sacraments and shelters them from the wolves that lie in wait for their souls.

He is a father, because he breaks the bread of life to his children, whom he has begotten in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.[I. Cor. iv. 15.]

He is a judge, whose office it is to pass sentence of pardon on self-accusing criminals.

He is a physician, because he heals their souls from the loathsome distempers of sin.

I hope this has cleared up questions on this matter, as I think it is illiterate to keep asking it repeatedly.

2007-02-25 08:09:44 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

If your interpretation of the words "call no man on earth father" were taken literally, it would be a repudiation of Christ's teachings, and so a sin, to call Washington the father of our country; Copernicus that father of astronomy; Pasteur the father of the science of bacteriology, or even the head of a family, father. For remember that Christ did not say "call no priest Father on earth." It may interest you to know that it was a priest, an Augustinian named Father Matthew Carr, who first called Washington the Father of our country. That was during a sermon delivered at a memorial Mass in 1799 that was said for the salvation of the soul of Washington. Do you think that priest would have called him father if it took from God the Father any of the honor due to Him? Most decidedly, No!

2007-02-25 08:50:28 · update #1

While a priest by a name other than father might be just as sweet to Catholics, as it is in countries where the priest is called Monsieur, it would not properly designate him. The priest is truely a father. Through him we are reborn in water and the Holy Spirit, changed horn a state of nature to a state of grace, thus becoming adopted sons of God, brothers of Jesus Christ. The priest feeds us with the "super-substantial bread" we pray for in the Our Father, which nourishes our spiritual being. When we fall from grace by sin, he, as ambassador of God, restores us repentant sinners to the friendship of God. He blesses our marriages; and when we are sick unto death, he anoints us, prepares us for either restoration to health or fitness to meet our God. Besides all that, during our life, and after our death, he offers up the Sacrifice of the Altar, and prays for our heavenly wellbeing.

2007-02-25 08:53:34 · update #2

In a word, the priest is truly our spiritual father, an alter Christus, who functions by the will and in the name of Christ. For these reasons we delight to lovingly call him, father, and in so doing we add to instead of take away from our Father who is in heaven that primary honor that is due Him.

2007-02-25 08:53:48 · update #3

In a word, the priest is truly our spiritual father, an alter Christus, who functions by the will and in the name of Christ. For these reasons we delight to lovingly call him, father, and in so doing we add to instead of take away from our Father who is in heaven that primary honor that is due Him.

2007-02-25 08:54:37 · update #4

27 answers

Like many priests, fathers also sexually abuse their children.

Zing!

2007-02-25 08:15:12 · answer #1 · answered by dmlk2 4 · 2 3

You did not answer that very well, but you did answer a lot of other questions. It seems to me that they are taking on the titles given to Jesus and to God, could it be that they call him "Father" after God the Father? Seems evil, blasphemous if so. But Jesus is our only shepherd, and God our only king, Jesus is our physician and our Judge, so I guess it is not a leap to say that God is our only Father, so that is why they want that title. After all, isn't that what the Pope is supposed to be?

Personally I wish they would just back off -- there is no reason to take on God's titles, just try to be a righteous person, living in Jesus Christ. We are all as equal before Him. Peter was a nothing, a nobody, a filthy, stinking, foul-mouthed fisherman who Jesus changed his life around and I wish the Catholics would remember things like that when they give to people authority. In other words, God is the one who gives people the authority, and if we do it, it needs to be based upon what God has done.

If a priest is called a Father, which I believe should be avoided and only used informally, it should be because he led many to Christ and teaches them to grow in Jesus. In a sense, they would become his spiritual children, at least for a while. But I honestly believe that the title is put on him because they take the title of God, place it on a man in Rome, call him the Father, and the priest is like a local version of that man.

Am I wrong here somewhere other than the fact that I am not Catholic?

2007-02-25 08:22:46 · answer #2 · answered by Shawn D 3 · 0 2

If the use of the designation father was intended by Christ to be limited to our Heavenly Father, and Him only, rest assured He would not have called our natural male parent "father," which He did on a few occasions. A proper reading of the whole of chapter 23 of St. Matthew's Gospel shows that Christ referred to the uncharitable Scribes and Pharisees who were putting heavy burdens upon the people; who "love the first places at suppers, and the front seats in the synagogues.,, He cautioned the people against encouraging their vanity by saluting them as Rabbi, Master, Father. Christ wanted the people to realize that the father who comes first is the Father in heaven. It is the love of God the Father that is reflected by Catholics in their designation of the priest as father.

2007-03-04 09:44:04 · answer #3 · answered by llosier9 3 · 1 0

Peace be with you.

Matthew, chapters 5, 6, 7, and 23 tells about Jesus, talking to the multitudes, concerning the scribes and the Pharisees.
Jesus despised scribes and Pharisees, (lawyers and religious men).

He spoke directly against Jewish teachings and rituals, such as calling people "father" , praying in churches and on festive days just to be noticed by men. Wearing long robes, being called Rabbi,
These are things Jesus actually said, but because of your traditions, you left undone things that you should have done.

Jesus said; "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 Farther, which is in heaven

When Jesus referred to father, he either referred to "Father, which is in heaven", or your father (Satan)

By his Words as a aggregate it may be assumed that there are only 2 ways of being born of women, 1 is by God, 2 by Satan, however, that pertains to just the flesh body, all spirit bodies belong to God the Father, but this endeavor has been given to Jesus

So why would a religious man purposely try to deceive you, Jesus told you, so they can keep their Place and Nation.

Jesus also told you of them in Revelations, "they say they are Jews and are not, they do lie" I will make them a synagogue of Satan.
Circumcision is a Jewis tradition, as is being called "father"

2007-03-03 11:23:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

Because they believe in God, Witch most people believe to be " The Father." They believe he created everyone, And thus he his everyones " father". The Priest is head of the Church. He is very religious and people think he is Gods messenger. Also It has to do with Cristian Faith.

2007-03-05 07:59:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

This is not really a question, but thanks for posting it.

The Pope has helped me the most by helping me to understand what God the Father is like. I don't have the best biological father in the world, but by looking at the Pope I can see what a good father really is.

2007-03-04 17:03:11 · answer #6 · answered by Dysthymia 6 · 0 0

My thoughts are the same


Now get the message across on the ignorance of other Catholic doctrines



.

2007-02-25 08:19:23 · answer #7 · answered by benito 2 · 2 0

Catholic preists are the public's closest relation to God the Father, and that is my only reasoning.

2007-02-25 08:12:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1 1

It's a reflection of the male dominated society when religion was invented.

2007-03-05 01:16:08 · answer #9 · answered by ShanShui 4 · 0 0

The Bible specifically says not to call anyone father, for there is only one father and He reigns over us. By your description, your priest is taking the place of Jesus Christ and that is idolotry!!

2007-02-25 08:18:21 · answer #10 · answered by michael m 5 · 1 3

Yep

2007-02-25 08:13:51 · answer #11 · answered by ibid 3 · 2 0

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