Why do Catholics call their priests "father" when we are all just brothers and sisters in the eyes of God?

The verse you are probably referring to where Jesus says "call no man father" (Matt. 23:6–7) must be read in its context. Jesus Christ was talking about the proud Pharisees.

Jesus was not condemning spiritual fatherhood (see 1 Cor. 4:14–15). He was simply condemning any man who wished to put himself in a place that belongs to God alone.

The 12 disciples were spiritual fathers to the early Christians when Christ ascended to Heaven. What Jesus condemns is putting our spiritual fathers on equal footing with God - that is always wrong.

Catholics respect priests because they are ordained to administer the sacraments and teach the faithful. Therefore we rightly call them "Fathers."

But our worship and adoration is due to God alone. He is the source of all Truth and Goodness.

Peace be to you all+

The Elders of the Church are Called "Fathers" and the Faithful "Children"

Matt. 23:9 - Jesus says, "call no man father." But Protestants use this verse in an attempt to prove that it is wrong for Catholics to call priests "father." This is an example of "eisegesis" (imposing one's views upon a passage) as opposed to "exegesis" (drawing out the meaning of the passage from its context). In this verse, Jesus was discouraging His followers from elevating the scribes and Pharisees to the titles of “fathers” and “rabbis” because they were hypocrites. Jesus warns us not to elevate anyone to the level of our heavenly Father.

Matt. 23:8 – in this teaching, Jesus also says not to call anyone teacher or rabbi as well. But don’t Protestants call their teachers “teacher?” What about this commandment of Jesus? When Protestants say “call no man father,” they must also argue that we cannot call any man teacher either.

Judges 17:10; 18:19 - priesthood and fatherhood have always been identified together. Fatherhood literally means "communicating one's nature," and just as biological fathers communicate their nature to their children, so do spiritual fathers communicate the nature of God to us, their children, through (hopefully) teaching and example.

Eph. 3:14-15 - every family in heaven and on earth is named from the "Father." We are fathers in the Father.

Acts 7:2; 22:1,1 John 2:13 - elders of the Church are called "fathers." Therefore, we should ask the question, "Why don't Protestants call their pastors "father?"

1 Cor. 4:15 - Paul writes, "I became your father in Christ Jesus."

1 Cor. 4:17 - Paul calls Bishop Timothy a beloved and faithful "child" in the Lord.

2 Cor. 12:14 - Paul describes his role as parent over his "children" the Corinthians.

Phil. 2:22 - Paul calls Timothy's service to him as a son serves a "father."

1 Thess. 2:11- Paul compares the Church elders' ministry to the people like a father with his children.

1 Tim. 1:2,18; 2 Tim. 1:2-3 - Paul calls Timothy his true "child" in the faith and his son.

Titus 1:4 - Paul calls Titus his true "child" in a common faith. Priests are our spiritual fathers in the family of God.

Philemon 10 - Paul says he has become the "father" of Onesimus.

Heb. 12:7,9 - emphasizes our earthly "fathers." But these are not just biological but also spiritual (the priests of the Church).

1 Peter 5:13 - Peter refers to himself as father by calling Mark his "son."

1 John 2:1,13,14 - John calls the elders of the Church "fathers."

1 John 2:1,18,28; 3:18; 5:21; 3 John 4 - John calls members of the Church "children."

1 Macc. 2:65 - Mattathias the priest tells his sons that Simeon will be their "father."

Jesus criticized Jewish leaders who love "the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called ‘rabbi’ by men" (Matt. 23:6–7). His admonition here is a response to the Pharisees’ proud hearts and their grasping after marks of status and prestige.

He was using hyperbole (exaggeration to make a point) to show the scribes and Pharisees how sinful and proud they were for not looking humbly to God as the source of all authority and fatherhood and teaching, and instead setting themselves up as the ultimate authorities, father figures, and teachers.

Since the Bible frequently speaks of this spiritual fatherhood, we Catholics acknowledge it and follow the custom of the apostles by calling priests "father." Failure to acknowledge this is a failure to recognize and honor a great gift God has bestowed on the Church: the spiritual fatherhood of the priesthood.

Catholics know that as members of a parish, they have been committed to a priest’s spiritual care, thus they have great filial affection for priests and call them "father." Priests, in turn, follow the apostles’ biblical example by referring to members of their flock as "my son" or "my child" (cf. Gal. 4:19; 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:1; Philem. 10; 1 Pet. 5:13; 1 John 2:1; 3 John 4).

We follow ancient tradition used by Jesus (who spoke of "Father Abraham") as well as the tradition of the early church.

Perhaps the most pointed New Testament reference to the theology of the spiritual fatherhood of priests is Paul’s statement, "I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (1 Cor. 4:14–15).

Cheers,

Bruce

Matthew 23:9 says you must not call father to no one since you have only one father who is in the heavens. of course this doesn't mean about your biological father but to those who pretend they are guiding your soul, in fact they want to be called father to gain some holiness of the true god, although they know that it's not proper for this reason that they would be judge by jesus since they are not legitimate to be address such honor and they are too sinners, jesus and his father only who has the honor to be called this way as heavenly bodies and on earth is our material father who got all the right to be called as one. why catholic adapted this term, because they represent false religion being use by the demons and many got blinded with their lies.

thats a really good question, I dont really know what the answer is. I think its sort of a sign of respect. Priests in the Catholic Church literally devote their entire lives to their religions. They are bound to God in a very special way. I think that by calling them father, we recognize that bond that they have and the sacrifices they have made in their lives for God.

1- there is no such thing as a non-catholic chsrstian

2- we worte the new testament if there was anything wrong with respecting our preists in this way we wold be the first to know it we would not need a heretic to point it out

3- who are you to criticize the church that Jesus personally founded?

It too is wrong. The bible tells us to call no one father or Reverend except Jehovah. Of course your biological dad is fine

Because we are all brothers and sisters in the eyes of God. BUT YOU AREN"T GOD AND I"M NOT GOD.

because the priest represents, and speaks for, god