So a key question for us is, are we going to interpret this by the way the New Testament interprets it? Or are we going to lean on our own personal interpretation?
Do the saints of the NT use the word "father" for anyone on earth, either their natural parent, or as an honorary or customary way of referring to respected men or a spiritual relationship? Let's look.
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Christians, all through the NT and even to this day, have always understood calling men on earth "father" --- natural fathers, elders, and spiritual fathers ---to be correct, and not offensive to God.
Is this because Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Stephen, and the rest of tem, were either ignorant of what Jesus said, or dismissicve of His words?
No, it's because they understood that the message was that all fatherhood on earth (like all "teacherhood" and "masterhood") is secondary and subordinate, derives from God who is the only ultimate father, master, and teacher.
The tagline is Ephesians 3:15
>>You and I need to go to Holy Scripture as our reliable guide on this, rather than a merely human interpretation.<<
Thank you so much for your excellent response to one of the silliest of anti-Catholic arguments still being thrown around by religious bigots.