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Featured When addressing a Catholic Priest......

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Salty, Jul 27, 2013.

  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    When you address a Catholic priest- do you call him "Father"? why or why not?
     
  2. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    Nope,

    I have one Father - My Heavenly Father.

    I call him by whatever others do, except without the "father."

    So, if the folks call him "father Paul," I just say, "Paul."

    To date, none have questioned me about so doing.
     
  3. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    That's about it for me. Although I might use Pastor Paul. I hate any of the titles like that for any ministry people even myself, especially reverend.
     
  4. drfuss

    drfuss New Member

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    I agree. Jesus said not to address an other Christian by an elevated title; that would include: pastor, father, reverend, deacon, teacher, apostle, bishop, etc.
    We are all brothers.
     
  5. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    Aside- having lived and ministered in South Texas, I always had a little laugh to myself when the Catholic students that I worked with would call me "Father" and ask me what time "Mass" was at our church. We had many visit and some saved.
     
  6. JohnDeereFan

    JohnDeereFan Well-Known Member
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    I don't, because he's not my father and, as a Christian, I don't recognize his authority.

    On the one hand, I want to be polite and respectful but, on the other, as I believe Catholicism is a separate and distinct religion, apart from Christianity, I don't believe he's earned any of the honorific titles associated with Christian leaders.

    So I usually just call him "Mr. _____".

    Not very often that I run into that problem. I don't run into too many Catholic priests around here.
     
  7. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    I have a question - but I started a new thread
     
  8. Arbo

    Arbo Active Member
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    I have never addressed a Catholic priest using the title "father". Though I do not recognize spiritual authority over me, I do not think it appropriate to show derision for the office.
     
  9. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    I would call him Paul for example, or Mr. Jones. He has no spiritual authority over any of us, but do think one should be cordial and civil as we may be near enough for his church members to hear.

    I can remember in the Presbyterian church, many pastors used Reverend. As one poster pointed out above, only God is good.

    If the RCC had a clear understanding of Scripture, they would run away from the name "Father."
     
  10. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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  11. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    What would happen if you called him Unholy father?
     
  12. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Depending on my relationship with the priest I usually defer to their title of "Father So-and-so" in formal settings. Like, if I'm addressing a group of people at an inter-Christian dialogue or something.

    In private, informal conversation (particularly if I know them) I'll call them by their first name.

    It doesn't bother me to call them "Father."
     
  13. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=5829430&page=1

     
  14. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    Depends

    If he is a parish priest or a priest on a parish's staff, I'd call him "Pastor". I look at the word as a job title not an honorific. If the priest is not in a parish, then mister last name.
     
  15. Iconoclast

    Iconoclast Well-Known Member
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    8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

    9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

    10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
     
  16. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    Confession 26:4

     
  17. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    I refer to them as 'fodder'
     
  18. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    This is not what Jesus said.

    1. Jesus did not say a thing about what we should call another. He said "Do not be called...." There the onus is on the one with the position, so that he should not tell anyone to call him anything. If someone were to say to a pastor, "Hello, Mr. Jones" and the pastor were to object and say, "You must call me Rev. Jones," that is what Christ was condemning.

    2. Jesus did not say a thing about the words pastor, reverend, deacon, apostle or bishop. He specifically used the words father, Rabbi (teacher) and Master (Greek kathegetes, meaning guide or teacher). His point was, you have only one teacher in spiritual matters and that is Jesus Christ. As for the word "apostle," Paul often called himself that, so there is no sin there in calling one's self pastor, etc.

    In this matter the Catholics are greatly at fault, and no one should call any Catholic priest "father," because there is only one Father in Heaven. However, Paul referred to himself as a spiritual father (1 Cor. 4:14-15), not as a title but as a relationship, being the one who led them to Christ.
     
  19. Judith

    Judith Well-Known Member
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    Nope. I find the term inappropriate and the position he is claiming as not biblical.
     
  20. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    The Rev. E. Kathleen Christopher, who serves under Gospel Coalition council member, the Rev. Dr. John Yates, at The Falls Church-Anglican:

    From The Bishop's Desk
     
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