Question:
Why do the Catholics refer to the Pope as the Holy Father? There is only one Holy Father, and that is God?
1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Why do the Catholics refer to the Pope as the Holy Father? There is only one Holy Father, and that is God?
Nineteen answers:
Veritas
2007-11-12 13:40:03 UTC
Not sure where in the bible it uses the words "Holy Father" to describe God? But that's not a major issue anyway. Why?



Because the bible calls other men "fathers" besides God. St. Paul frequently addresses elders in the church as "fathers."



St. Paul also refers to himself as a "father" and his flock as "children."



The Catholic priest is a father like St. Paul in that he teaches and pastors a flock (his congregation).



The Pope is also an ordained priest, and being in at the top of the Church hierarchy he is referred to as not just "Father" but "the Holy Father."



Holy simply means "set apart." It can be used to describe many things. Vessels used for worship in the Old Testament were called "holy" or "sacred." The word means "set apart" for a special purpose. The Pope has a special mission which differs from the common parish priest.



Holy does NOT mean perfect or saintly.



I hope this helps explain the Catholic perspective. Please pay no attention to the ignorant bashers on here who aren't giving you anything to back up their claims. They are simply spouting anti-Catholic propaganda, and many have never opened the Catholic catechism before to see what we actually believe and WHY.



Pax Vobiscum+
2007-11-12 13:40:30 UTC
Read your bible, dear:



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."



Matt. 3:9; Luke 3:8 - Jesus refers to Abraham as our "father."



Mark 11:10 - the people cried out blessed is the kingdom of our "father" David that is coming!



Luke 1:32 - God's angel says Jesus will be great and be given the throne of his "father" David.



Luke 1:55 - Mary says that He spoke to our "fathers," to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.



Luke 1:73 - Zechariah says the oath which he swore to our "father" Abraham.



Luke 16:24,30 - Jesus, in His parable about the rich man, says our "father" Abraham.



John 4:12 - the Samaritan woman asks Jesus if He is greater than our "father" Jacob.



John 7:22 - Jesus refers to the "fathers" who gave the Jews the practice of circumcision.



John 8:56 - Jesus tells the Jews your "Father" Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day.



Acts 3:13,25; 5:30 - Peter teaches that the God of our "fathers" glorified His servant Jesus and raised Him to life.



Acts 4:25 - Peter and John pray to God and refer to our "father" David.



Acts 7:11-12, 15,19,38,44-45,51-52 - Stephen refers to our "fathers" in the faith.



Acts 7:32 - Stephen calls God the God of our "fathers."



Acts 13:17,32,36; 24:14; 26:6; 28:17,25 - Paul also refers to the God of our "fathers" in the faith.



Acts 22:3 - Paul says he was educated according to the strict law of our "fathers."



Acts 22:14 - Ananias says the God of our "fathers."



Rom. 4:1 - Paul calls Abraham our "forefather."



Rom. 4:16-17 - Paul says that Abraham is the "father" of us all and the "father" of many nations.



Rom. 9:10 - Paul calls Isaac, a spiritual leader, our "forefather."



1 Cor. 10:1 - Paul says that our "fathers" were all under the cloud, referring to the Old Testament spiritual leaders.



Gal. 1:14 - Paul says that he was zealous for the tradition of his "fathers."



2 Tim. 1:3 - Paul thanks God whom he serves with a clear conscience as did his "fathers" in faith.



Heb. 1:1 - the author says God spoke of old to our "fathers."



Heb. 3:9 - the Holy Spirit says that your "fathers" put me to the test.



Heb. 8:9 - God says not like the covenant that I made with their "fathers."



James 2:21 - James says was not our "father" Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac?



1 Peter 1:18 - Peter says you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your "fathers."



2 Peter 3:4 - Peter says ever since the "fathers" fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning.



Matt. 15:4-5; 19:19 - Jesus uses "father" when He teaches God's commandment to "Honor your father and your mother."



Mark 7:10-12; Luke 18:20 - these are more examples of Jesus using "father" when teaching about honoring our fathers and mothers.



Eph. 6:2,4 - Paul also teaches to honor your "father" and mother, and says "fathers," do not provoke your children.



Matt. 10:21; 35,37; Mark 13:12 - Jesus says "father" will deliver up his child in the last days.



Matt. 19:5; Mark 10:7,19 - Jesus says a man shall leave his "father" and mother and be joined to his wife. See also Eph. 5:31.



Matt. 19:29; Mark 10:29-30 - Jesus says whoever has left mother or "father" for His sake shall receive a hundredfold.



Matt. 21:31 - Jesus uses "father" when he teaches about the parable of the two sons and asks, "who did the will of his "father?"



Luke 6:23,26 - Jesus speaks about reward and punishment with reference to what their "fathers" did to the prophets.



Luke 11:11 - Jesus says what "father" among you will give his child a serpent when he asks for a fish.



Luke 11:47-48 - Jesus tells the lawyers they are witnesses to the deeds of their "fathers."



Luke 14:26 - Jesus says we must leave our "fathers" and mothers and come to him, or we cannot be His disciple.



Luke 15:12,17-18,20-22,27-29 - Jesus repeatedly uses "father" when teaching about the prodigal son.



Luke 16:27 - Jesus uses "father" when teaching about the rich man in purgatory.



John 6:49,58 - Jesus says your "fathers" ate the manna in the wilderness and died.
daljack -a girl
2007-11-12 13:42:05 UTC
In order to really understand a subject or in this case a certain religion you can't ask questions that go back thousands of years and expect a decent answer.



If you're trying to cast dispersions on a certain religion it's best not to do "sound-bite-questions".



If you want to say negatives things about a religion and want people to rally behind you....just spit it out.
imacatholic2
2007-11-12 20:03:38 UTC
+ Holy +



The Bible states that anyone who possesses the Holy Spirit is holy. The Bible speaks of a holy man of God, holy ones, a holy people, a holy nation, and holy brothers.



That is why Mary is blessed (holy). The angel Gabriel called her, "Full of grace" and, "The Lord is with you."



+ Holy Father +



We can have many fathers.



We have:

+ Biological fathers

+ Step fathers

+ Foster fathers (Saint Joseph)

+ Godfathers

+ Spiritual fathers (ordained clergy: priests and bishops)

. + Our most senior spiritual father, our Holy Father (the Pope)

+ God the heavenly Father



None of our other fathers take the place of God the Father in any way.



+ Read the Bible +



All Catholics are encouraged to read the Bible.



The Catholic Church teaches: The Church forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful to learn ‘the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ,' by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. ‘Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.'



We also all listen to the Word being proclaimed and explained in every Mass.



In every Sunday Mass there are at least four Bible readings

+ First Reading - usually from the Old Testament

+ A Psalm is prayed by all

+ Second Reading - usually from a New Testament Epistle

+ Gospel Reading

+ then the priest bring them all together and helps us apply them to our lives in the homily



For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 131-133: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect1chpt2.htm#131



+ With love in Christ.
?
2007-11-12 13:53:43 UTC
Mt 3:9 Jesus calls Abraham "Father"

Mt 19:19 Jesus confirms commandment Honor thy Father and Mother

Acts 7:2 Saint Steven calls Jewish leaders "Father"

Acts 21:40 Saint Paul calls Jerusalem Jews "Fathers"

Acts 22:1Saint Paul calls Jerusalem Jews "Fathers"

Rom 4:16-17 Abraham called the "Father" of all

1 Cor 4:14-15 I became your "Father" in Christ thru Gospel

1 Tim 1:2 my true child in Faith

Heb 12:7-9 we have earthly "Fathers" to discipline us

Lk 14:26 if anyone comes to me without hating his "Father"

1 Thes 2:11 we treat you as a "Father" treats his children

Philem 10 whose "Father" I became in my imprisonment

1Jn 2:13, 14, I write to you, "Father," because you know him



Just to many example to continue to show the hypocrisy of this one...

Catholics have more Biblical references than those who oppose this term from the writers of the Biblical Letters.



Where's your proof that "Father" is a sinful term for humans to use!

EDIT: Yes that Catholic is in error. The Pope is absolutely human and sinful at times. He is charged with the Ministry of Peter among the Apostles. Jesus set Peter's Ministry apart and distinct from the other Apostle, and so it has been for over 2000 years. This LIE that Catholics worship the Pope or think he is a god is just WRONG. We do, however recognize the Pope's unique ministry among all the Apostles of Christ Jesus. His gift is unique and you simply need to read the Bible to see the different missions of Peter in relations to the other apostles.



Our Catholic Faith is based on the foundation of the Apostles of Jesus Christ. Eph 2:20 Bible Alone foundation is not Biblical. Go figure?!
Daver
2007-11-15 15:17:43 UTC
The alleged Catholic in question is grossly mislead. Catholics are encouraged to read the Bible AND ask questions.



As far as your claim, that it is not appropriate to call the Pope "Holy Father", I am afraid you are mislead:



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."



The Lord, Mary, the Apostles and Others Refer to Spiritual Leaders as "Fathers"

Matt. 3:9; Luke 3:8 - Jesus refers to Abraham as our "father."



Mark 11:10 - the people cried out blessed is the kingdom of our "father" David that is coming!



Luke 1:32 - God's angel says Jesus will be great and be given the throne of his "father" David.



Luke 1:55 - Mary says that He spoke to our "fathers," to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.



Luke 1:73 - Zechariah says the oath which he swore to our "father" Abraham.



Luke 16:24,30 - Jesus, in His parable about the rich man, says our "father" Abraham.



John 4:12 - the Samaritan woman asks Jesus if He is greater than our "father" Jacob.



John 7:22 - Jesus refers to the "fathers" who gave the Jews the practice of circumcision.



John 8:56 - Jesus tells the Jews your "Father" Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day.



Acts 3:13,25; 5:30 - Peter teaches that the God of our "fathers" glorified His servant Jesus and raised Him to life.



Acts 4:25 - Peter and John pray to God and refer to our "father" David.



Acts 7:11-12, 15,19,38,44-45,51-52 - Stephen refers to our "fathers" in the faith.



Acts 7:32 - Stephen calls God the God of our "fathers."



Acts 13:17,32,36; 24:14; 26:6; 28:17,25 - Paul also refers to the God of our "fathers" in the faith.



Acts 22:3 - Paul says he was educated according to the strict law of our "fathers."



Acts 22:14 - Ananias says the God of our "fathers."



Rom. 4:1 - Paul calls Abraham our "forefather."



Rom. 4:16-17 - Paul says that Abraham is the "father" of us all and the "father" of many nations.



Rom. 9:10 - Paul calls Isaac, a spiritual leader, our "forefather."



1 Cor. 10:1 - Paul says that our "fathers" were all under the cloud, referring to the Old Testament spiritual leaders.



Gal. 1:14 - Paul says that he was zealous for the tradition of his "fathers."



2 Tim. 1:3 - Paul thanks God whom he serves with a clear conscience as did his "fathers" in faith.



Heb. 1:1 - the author says God spoke of old to our "fathers."



Heb. 3:9 - the Holy Spirit says that your "fathers" put me to the test.



Heb. 8:9 - God says not like the covenant that I made with their "fathers."



James 2:21 - James says was not our "father" Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac?



1 Peter 1:18 - Peter says you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your "fathers."



2 Peter 3:4 - Peter says ever since the "fathers" fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning.



Other Examples Where Jesus Uses the Word "Father" When Teaching

Matt. 15:4-5; 19:19 - Jesus uses "father" when He teaches God's commandment to "Honor your father and your mother."



Mark 7:10-12; Luke 18:20 - these are more examples of Jesus using "father" when teaching about honoring our fathers and mothers.



Eph. 6:2,4 - Paul also teaches to honor your "father" and mother, and says "fathers," do not provoke your children.



Matt. 10:21; 35,37; Mark 13:12 - Jesus says "father" will deliver up his child in the last days.



Matt. 19:5; Mark 10:7,19 - Jesus says a man shall leave his "father" and mother and be joined to his wife. See also Eph. 5:31.



Matt. 19:29; Mark 10:29-30 - Jesus says whoever has left mother or "father" for His sake shall receive a hundredfold.



Matt. 21:31 - Jesus uses "father" when he teaches about the parable of the two sons and asks, "who did the will of his "father?"



Luke 6:23,26 - Jesus speaks about reward and punishment with reference to what their "fathers" did to the prophets.



Luke 11:11 - Jesus says what "father" among you will give his child a serpent when he asks for a fish.



Luke 11:47-48 - Jesus tells the lawyers they are witnesses to the deeds of their "fathers."



Luke 14:26 - Jesus says we must leave our "fathers" and mothers and come to him, or we cannot be His disciple.



Luke 15:12,17-18,20-22,27-29 - Jesus repeatedly uses "father" when teaching about the prodigal son.



Luke 16:27 - Jesus uses "father" when teaching about the rich man in purgatory.



John 6:49,58 - Jesus says your "fathers" ate the manna in the wilderness and died.





Please do not be so quick to judge Catholic theology, lest you misjudge it.
Pain Is All I Know
2007-11-13 15:31:06 UTC
The pope is our spirtual father, he helps us to understand and guide us....The pope is no different than a Baptist pastor, or any pastor....because he does the same thing, except he helps ALL Catholic churches....Basically the pope is a pastor who has one huge church to guide....And yes, he is human....But he is an Alter christus, he has givin his life up for christ to guide us....
sparki777
2007-11-13 12:37:04 UTC
Responding to your "Additional Details"



We know the pope is human.



We know he's no more a saint than anyone else.



We know he's a sinner (he goes to confession, same as us).



He's not the "sole advisor" for us -- he's the head of the Holy See, but there are lots and lots of theologians working over there.



We most certainly ARE encouraged to read and study the Bible and to ask questions. That's what the Bible Studies and RCIA classes at any Catholic parish are for. That's what the Catholic Answers web site is for. That's why you have your priest over for dinner. The Catholic who told you this was either trying to cover for his/her own ignorance, poorly educated or purposely attempting to discredit the Church.
Victoria
2007-11-12 14:28:34 UTC
i have the same question to
Plat
2007-11-12 13:45:42 UTC
Mathew 23:9

Mathew 20:25, 26
FarmerCec
2007-11-12 13:39:42 UTC
blind leading the blind :)



edit six minutes later



six thumbs down already? that was fast...check the link, only one father, and he is in heaven...
Wisdom
2007-11-12 13:44:12 UTC
Carolyn:

You are correct.

But, since you asked, you can do a search among the group of Catholic websites and perhaps come up with a reasonable answer.

I'm guessing it to be something in the order of respect.



You can also look in the official watchtower.org website and get the truth.
Meat Bot
2007-11-12 13:39:45 UTC
Not according to the Mormons. They think God has a father and a grandfather, etc.

http://www.exmormon.org
2007-11-12 13:38:50 UTC
And there is no "pope" in the Bible.



Catholics are not saved because catholics believe a false gospel of works that leads to eternal hell (Galatians 1).
2007-11-12 13:38:56 UTC
Uh oh, it looks like there are two fathers in this relationship!
2007-11-12 13:40:35 UTC
Are they not decived by the ruler and true head of all the churches ?

The great deciver.
2007-11-12 13:38:39 UTC
Are you asking or ranting?



Drink!!
2007-11-12 13:39:23 UTC
They are mislead.
2007-11-12 13:38:53 UTC
blasphemy!!


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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