Why do we call Catholic Priests "Father"?

Matthew 23:8-10

"But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. "Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.

The Bible verse above is what Anti-Catholics use to attack the way we call our Priests.. "Father".. In it says that there should be no one called a "Teacher", a "Father", and a "Leader". If this is taken literally, there would be no more students calling their instructors a "Teacher".. no more children calling their fathers a "Father"..

Jesus did not said this literally. He was ONLY teaching His disciples that there is no one HIGHER than Him.

If it was literal, then why did Paul called himself "Father"?

- 1 Cor. 4:14-16 = I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.

1 Thes. 2:11-12

- just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

2 Timothy 1:2 - [Paul said]

To Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.



We call our fathers "Daddy", or "Dad", or "Father" because they are our physical fathers. There is nothing bad about it for God is our spiritual father forever. God even required us to "Honor our Father and Mother" (10 commandments)
Calling Catholic Priests a "Father" is a sign of respect for giving service to the Lord, and sanctifying the people like Paul.






Dios Bendiga!