Catholics call their priest "Father":

I. Because he IS a Spiritual Father to them.

(a)	In infancy he baptized them and, therefore, was the instrument . . . the agency . . . of their spiritual REBIRTH just as the physical fathers of Catholics are responsible for their PHYSICAL birth.
(b)	He gives them spiritual FOOD for their souls whenever they receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion. "For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." (Jn. VI, 57). PROVIDING NOURISHMENT IS ANOTHER OBLIGATION OF A FATHER.
(c)	In confession, the priest not only forgives sin in the name of Christ, but also ADVISES them as to the best way to overcome their difficulties . . . spiritual and material. THIS, TOO, IS THE DUTY OF A FATHER.
(d)	Like a father, the priest is always at the death-bed of a Catholic to console and assist him. No Catholic would WANT to die without a priest -- HIS SPIRITUAL FATHER -- beside him.

Therefore, a priest does not DEMAND this title. Catholics call him "Father" as a sign of the affection he shares with their natural parents, and because he shares with them the duties and obligations of a parent.

II. Because the Bible does not mean that NO man should be called "Father."

1. Cruden's Concordance (which is a non-Catholic concordance) at the beginning of the citation under the word "father" says:

"In addition to its common use, this word is also used in the sense of seniors . . . of ancestors . . . founders of trades or professions . . . head of the inhabitants of a town, etc."

The word "Father” is found almost a 1000 times and only about half of these refer to God. The others refer to HUMAN BEINGS who are called "Father."

2. It was not the intention of Christ that NO man should be called "Father."

(a)	In Matthew XIII, 1-3 . . . He is admonishing the people to follow the teachings of the Pharisees . . . but not their example: "But do not act according to their works." According to these verses, no master is to be followed who would lead us away from Christ.
(b)	Christ Himself permitted and used the word FOR OTHERS than God. (a) In John 4:12, He did not correct the Samaritan woman who said: "Art thou greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well? . . ." (b) In John 8:56, He Himself used the term, for Abraham: "Abraham your father rejoiced that he was to see my day . . .

3. Saint Paul, following the example of Christ, did not take these words in their literal sense.

(a)	He calls the Corinthians his spiritual children: "For although you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet you have not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, through the gospel, did I beget you." (1 Cor. 4:15)
(b)	He calls Timothy his "beloved SON in the faith." (1 Tim. 1:2)
(c)	He speaks of the Corinthians as his CHILDREN: ". . . but I admonish you as my dearest children." (1 Cor. 4:14)
(d)	He tells the Philippians that the proof of Timothy's loyalty is to be found in the fact that he had served Paul in the Gospel as "a Son with the FATHER." (Phil. 2:22)
(e)	See also: 1 Thes. 2:11.

1. All honorary titles would be forbidden. Judges, mayors, etc., could not be called "Your Honor." Presidents, ambassadors, etc., could not be called "Your Excellency."

2. Physicians could not be called 'Doctor" and ministers could not be called "Reverend."

3. We could not call our own male parent "Father" for there would be no exceptions under the literal interpretation.

4. Likewise we could no longer call Washington the "Father of the Country."

5. We could not use the expression "Mister" for this is equivalent to "Master" and the same text says, "Neither be ye called masters. ..."

6. Nor could we use the term "Sir" for this is a contraction of "Sire" which means "Lord" or "Master."