Dear Tim:

Let me give a warning before answering your question. My response is going to be a little biting because this is such a silly issue that some Protestants bring up. But within that bite you'll have the information you need to deal with this question when Protestants ask it.

My first response to a anti-Catholic who asks the question about calling priests "Father" is: "Do you know how to read?"

My second question is: "Do you have a brain?"

This canard is by far the most stupid and idiotic issue on the planet. These so-called "Bible Christians" tend to be the most illiterate and ignorant of the Bible of all. Hindus know more about the Bible than these people do.

Let us look at this verse and I will use the King James Bible so as not to be accused of using a "Catholic" Bible that "changes Scripture to hide the truth":

Mat 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

According to the SMI technique (Stupid Method of Interpretation technique) this passage says that we cannot call any man:

1) RABBI (which means Teacher)
2) Father
3) Master

...thus it is sin to do so.

So, are not the fundamentalists who posit this stupid interpretation hypocrites? Do they not call instructors of Sunday School classes, Sunday School TEACHERS? Do they not call their own daddies FATHER?

What about Master Plumbers, Master Electricians, Master Carpenters, Webmasters. Is is sin to have these titles?

What about the MASTER bedroom? the MASTER bath.

Is George Washington not the FATHER of our Country? 

How about a MASTER of Arts degree? A person who earns this degree is technically a MASTER and was called that in the old days of yesteryear.

See the silliness?

But let me compose myself here and do a little Bible study (at least for those who know how to read):

• In Acts 7:2 St. Stephen calls Jewish leaders "fathers" 
• In Acts 21:40; 22:1 St. Paul calls the Jerusalem Jews "fathers"
• Romans 4:16-17 Abraham is called "the father of us all"
• 1 Corinthians 4:14-15 St. Paul tells us that "I became your father" in Christ though the Gospel
• 1 Timothy 1:4 St. Paul uses the phrase, "my child in the faith" (that makes him the father)
• Hebrews 12:7-9 tells us we have earthy "fathers" to discipline us
• Luke 14:46 Jesus tells the crowd that if anyone comes to him without hating his "father"
• 1 Thessalonians 2:11 we read that the Thessalonians were treated "as a father treats his children"
• Philemon 10 St. Paul refers to himself as "father"
• 1 John 2:13, 14 St. John says that he writes to you, "fathers"

The apostles, and even Jesus himself, called "men" fathers. Thus, there must be another way to interpret Matthew 23:9 other than the SMI Hermeneutics.

In using real Hermeneutics we must not take verses out of context. If we look at the full context of Matthew 23:9 we begin to see what a proper interpretation might be. Here is the passage again (using KJV), but this time in its proper context (Matt 23:1-13):

[1] Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
[2] Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
[3] All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
[4] For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
[5] But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
[6] And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
[7] And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
[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.
[11] But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
[12] And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
[13] But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

In reading the whole context (verse 14ff continue with the "woes" for the hypocrisies of the scribes and Pharisees) we see that the subject is hypocrisy. The Scribes and Pharisees were egotistical and greedy for honors and recognition. Jesus insists that leaders be servants and that their authority not be used to indulge personal vanity or greed. This is why Jesus says, "He who is greatest among you shall be your servant."

The Navarre Bible Commentary notes on verse 12:

A spirit of pride and ambition is incompatible with being a disciple of Christ. Here our Lord stresses the need for true humility, for anyone who is to follow him. The verbs "will be humbled", and "will be exalted" have "God" as their active agent. Along the same lines, St. James preaches that "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). And in the Magnificat, the Blessed Virgin explains that the Lord "has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree [the humble]" (Luke 1:52).

This entire section is dealing with pride, vanity, and greed for recognition.

In this context Jesus says as a hyperbole (exaggeration to make a point) to call no one teacher, father, or master except God in order to point out how sinful and proud the scribes and Pharisees were behaving.

All of us use hyperbole to make a point. "You NEVER throw your dirty clothes in the hamper." Really? NEVER? That is unlikely. This is an exaggeration to make the point of a repeated and habitual habit of the spouse or the child to throw his clothes on the floor.

Jesus used hyperbole often such as when he declared that "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away." Jesus was not advocating self-mutilation, an act that is sinful. It was an exaggeration to make a point.

The passage about calling no man father was an exaggeration to make a point, nothing more than that. Obviously Jesus was not advocating that we cannot call people fathers or teachers or masters. He did it himself -- call mere men "fathers." Was Jesus sinning when he did this? or was St. Paul sinning when he called various men, including himself, "father"?

For a formal essay on this subject see the article on Catholic Answers, Call no Man "Father"?

I hope through my ranting this helps. :)

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary