Yep, a sign of respect, just like Reverend, Deacon, Elder, or doctor. I must admit I’ve wonder about whether or not some Protestant televangelists actually thought of themselves as needing to be worshiped as “father the creator” rather than being just another servant of Jesus and His Holy Father.
To me the more important question is why, in the US Marine Corps they call all the Chaplains, “Padre” whether the chaplain is Catholic or Protestant.
Some Protestant denominations have a Father title, e.g. the Anglican church. Maybe they should call the fundie chaplains “Hermano.”
Did a search and nothing specific as to reason ... I guess it started way back sometime and it stuck.
I’m sure it started out as a jokey sort of address. Lots of non-Spanish-speaking Catholics call priests “Padre.”
In the military, a chaplain is chaplain to any soldier, regardless of religion, no? Except if it’s a matter of dispensing the sacraments. It would make sense to have a term of address that takes no account of denomination. I guess even rabbis are called “Padre,” then?
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Do they call the Imams padre too?
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