What do you call Catholic Priests?

Question

I know it isn't 'father,' but surely they have a title of some kind. Just to clarify, I want to be able to say "Hello (insert title here) James." Just knowing that they're a priest wont help.

Answer 1

I call Catholic priests "father".

Someone who is unconfortable calling a priest "father" can call one "reverend".

+ "Call no man father." +

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? I think not.

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 of a lack of humility as the pharisees of Jesus' day.

The Apostle Paul writes:

I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (1 Corinthians 4:14-15)

And:

As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you conduct yourselves as worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

And:

I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, who was once useless to you but is now useful to (both) you and me. (Philemon 10-11)

And finally, Peter calls himself the "father" of Mark:

The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son. (1 Peter 5:13)

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Father is appropriate, it would be hello Father James. If they are monks you can call them Brother or Friar, you would notice the difference by the way they are dressed. Monks will generally have on like a brown or black robe, sometime with a hood. Priests will usually dress in black pants and a black shirt with a piece of white cloth showing from behind the collar just below the chin.

Answer 3

Address Priests verbally as "Father Last Name", or "Father First Name", as they would prefer. Some persons who are not Catholic prefer to address Catholic priests as "Reverend". In some parts of Europe,for example, in Italy, it is common even for Catholics to address a priest as "Reverendo" especially in the absence of any other title. "Reverend", while not originally a title, has become a title with usage and has been common in the U.S.A. for at least 40 years. It is only necessary to say the last name once, if at all, depending on the circumstances. After that, simply call him "Father". In writing a letter, address the letter to "The Reverend Full Name" and append any doctoral degree (like Ph.D. or D.D.) if the priest has such a degree. Do not address letters to priests as "Reverend Father". In the address field write "The Reverend Full Name, Doctoral Degrees only," if any. Begin your letter with "Dear Reverend Last Name" or "Reverend Last Name" for a greater degree of formality; or "Dear Father Last Name" or "Dear Father First Name" if the letter is informal.

Answer 4

Father

Answer 5

Priests train for years before being ordained and the correct title is "Father". If they have other ranks in the church you might call them Monsignor or Cardinal. I am not a Catholic but I would still use the title "Father" for a priest. I am not Jewish either but I would still use the title "Rabbi" when adressing someone entitled to it. It does no harm to be courteous.

Answer 6

It is usual to call Catholic priests by the title "Father".

Answer 7

Why is it not Father.
Hello is fine. When you want to say Hello to someone you do not know.
If you want to know someone then introduce yourself and am sure the priest will tell you his name just like anyone would.
Happy Holidays

Answer 8

It's not wrong to address a Catholic priest as "father". However, if this doesn't do it for you, you can refer to him as Reverend.

Answer 9

It's either "father" or "monsignor" depending on their rank. You can tell a monsignor because he has scarlet buttons and piping on his cassock.

So if his clothing is all black except for the white collar, say "Hello, Father James." If you see some red, then you say, "Hello, Msgr. James."

"Monsignor" is pronounced "mahn-SEEN-your"

Answer 10

This reminds me of a joke.... but its not family oriented so I'm not going to post it.

It's father. But then, if your not Catholic, which I'm not, I usually just call them sir as in "Hello sir, how are you?" I have never had one get offended by that.