74. RELIGIOUS USE OF THE TERM FATHER.
By Editor
I have read among the sayings of Jesus that we should call no man "Father." Of course I understand him to mean spiritual father. If this be the case, is it not wrong to address a Catholic priest as "Father" so and so. It certainly is not scriptural. Of course that term, like "reverend," has come to mean a mere title to denote a profession rather than actual character or what is true. Men are called "reverend" who know naught of reverence. Men are called "father" who have themselves never been born of God, who have not yet become children. The term is generally used to denote a Catholic priest. We would not judge those who thus use it, but the term is not scriptural, and it may be safely affirmed that a Catholic priest is father of nothing good in a spiritual sense. "For one is your Father, which is in heaven." Matt. 23:9.