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Stop Calling Priests ‘Father’, Says Cardinal
The Catholic Herald (UK) ^ | 6/4/19 | Aaron Benevides

Posted on 06/06/2019 7:17:37 PM PDT by marshmallow

Cardinal John Dew said the change would help combat clericalism

New Zealand Cardinal John Dew has said it is time to stop calling priests “father.” In an April newsletter, Dew said that ending the use of the title “father” could be “the beginning of the reform in the Church” in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal.

Since then, Dew told New Zealand media outlet Stuff that he would no longer like to be referred to by his title and encouraged priests to do the same.

Dew suggested that this could be one way to respond to Pope Francis’ call to combat clericalism in the Church. He said his effort “is part of a package of changing the whole clerical attitude.”

In his letter, Dew summarized three main points from an article written for La Croix International by French priest Jean-Pierre Roche titled “Stop calling me Father.”

Roche first pointed to the Gospel, in which Jesus says “And do not call anyone on earth ‘Father,’ for you have but one Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9). Although Dew admits that the passage is “difficult to interpret and understand, “ he said “the meaning is clear. Jean-Pierre Roche says that to be called “Father” is to usurp the place of God.”

Second, Dew drew attention to the power dynamics of referring to priests as “father.” Dew said “It is not possible to have equal relationships between adults who are brothers and sisters if we call one of them “Father.”

(Excerpt) Read more at catholicherald.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Ministry/Outreach
KEYWORDS: francischurch; johndew
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To: Southside_Chicago_Republican

That is right, Jesus did not know any thing as he was an imposter, Paul was the real son of God.


61 posted on 06/07/2019 7:40:56 AM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: Utah Binger

Hey Binger!! Long time, no see. Hope you are well.


62 posted on 06/07/2019 7:43:02 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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Comment #63 Removed by Moderator

To: Biggirl

I never liked reverend. Pastor and chaplain were all right with me, but reverend always seemed over the top.


64 posted on 06/07/2019 7:43:55 AM PDT by xzins (Retired US Army chaplain. Support our troops by praying for their victory.)
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To: metmom

That’s immaterial to this discussion. We’re talking about the commands of Christ to His people.


65 posted on 06/07/2019 7:45:59 AM PDT by AnalogReigns (Real life is ANALOG!!!)
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To: ebb tide

“The proper salutation to address a pope is:
Most Holy Father; Your Holiness ”

Or, “hello el Jefe!” (he speaks Spanish)


66 posted on 06/07/2019 7:47:28 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: alexander_busek
There can be no doubt about what Jesus meant by that: Call no one - not even your own biological father - "father."

And you'll find no bible scholars who agree with you--nor is there any Christian church body--which says a biological father is not to be called "father."

67 posted on 06/07/2019 7:49:45 AM PDT by AnalogReigns (Real life is ANALOG!!!)
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To: Campion

Paul was full of self importance.


68 posted on 06/07/2019 7:52:06 AM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

Doing good. Lurking every day but seeking humor and ammunition to use against Trump haters and Romney lovers.


69 posted on 06/07/2019 7:52:41 AM PDT by Utah Binger (Southern Utah: Where the world comes to see America)
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To: MayflowerMadam

That is true but there are many who introduce them selves as reverand.


70 posted on 06/07/2019 7:55:13 AM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: marshmallow
The Church teaches that a priest, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, acts in persona Christi Capitis...

In my opinion, denying the presence of Father in a priest is tantamount to denying transubstantiation (the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist).

Denying the Real Presence, IOW denying the reality of God, is what novelty of this type is is all about...

71 posted on 06/07/2019 7:55:22 AM PDT by DBeers (The concept of peace in Islam requires not co-existence but submission.)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

I have never called my dad father
I think it is because the laws of
God are in the hearts of those who believe.

The unbelievers has to try to justify them selves
by trying to rely on man made religion.


72 posted on 06/07/2019 8:23:54 AM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: Albion Wilde

Nearly every one agrees that Jesus spoke in Aramaic which is what counts here.


73 posted on 06/07/2019 8:33:52 AM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: ravenwolf

Are the Pauline epistles Scripture?


74 posted on 06/07/2019 8:45:15 AM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.)
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To: xzins

That’s because you aren’t from the South. “Revun” is so much easier to drawl than “Pastor,” which would come out “Pastuh,” and just not sound as southernalistic.


75 posted on 06/07/2019 9:04:05 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it. --Douglas MacArthur)
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To: DBeers
Denying the Real Presence, IOW denying the reality of God, is what novelty of this type is is all about...

But the Triune God is present in all of us believers who partake of the Body and Blood together.

76 posted on 06/07/2019 9:07:38 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it. --Douglas MacArthur)
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To: AnalogReigns

Then why did you bring it up?


77 posted on 06/07/2019 9:08:34 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: ravenwolf
I have never called my dad father

Hard to believe. Have you never referred to him as "my father", such as when talking about him to someone else, or answering your teacher if she or he asks about your father? Have you never written his name on a document with a line that says, "Father's name__________"?

Don't confuse literalism with the spirit.

78 posted on 06/07/2019 9:10:26 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it. --Douglas MacArthur)
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To: ravenwolf; Albion Wilde
Nearly every one agrees that Jesus spoke in Aramaic which is what counts here.

Except that what you think He said in another language is irrelevant. Scripture was written and preserved in the Greek.

That's what we have to work with, not what we think someone might have said in another language that there is no written record of the things being said in that.

79 posted on 06/07/2019 9:11:44 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: ravenwolf
Nearly every one agrees that Jesus spoke in Aramaic which is what counts here.

—as my post clearly indicated, to anyone who knows that the Bible was first written down years later in Greek. Tat is why I am asking whether this is a translation problem, or a problem in some languages but not others. After all, the Bible has been translated into hundreds of languages; but the original manuscript accepted as canon was in Greek, and was discussed by the scholars of the time, who presumably knew Aramaic.

So, were there several words meaning "father" in Aramaic? Or in Greek? Might shed some light to know this. But I repeat myself.

80 posted on 06/07/2019 9:14:30 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it. --Douglas MacArthur)
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