I was wondering why Catholics and others have their priests and
pastors, etc, be referred to as "Father"?
- especially since Jesus says "Do not call anyone on earth your father;
for One is your Father, He who is in heaven." - Matthew 23:9.
I don't want to sound like a smart alec, but it's there in black and
white. I am curious how this practice, seemingly contradicting Jesus
commands, came to be generally accepted?
Thanks,
Timotheus Rex
(aka Tim Rudge) *********
Dear Timotheus,
Fair question. The practice goes back, at least, to the mid first century. St. Paul told the Corinthians he was their father (I Cor 4:15) and referred to Timothy, Titus and others as his "sons." Jesus himself called certain human beings "father." Thus, it appears in Mt 23:9 he was speaking about the unique, singular fatherhood of God from which, as St. Paul says, flows all human fatherhood.
I had a discussion of this with a guy named Lance if you care to take a look and tell me what you think.
God bless,
Fr. Bloom
Other Questions
See also: Cloud of Witnesses: A Biblical Primer on the Communion of Saints
Catholic Home Study Resources Follow-up question from Arron: "If you were brought up away from all churches, chapels, popes and bishops, and you only had the Bible as your ONE and ONLY source of information. Would you honestly believe Mary was a sinner or not?"