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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: ravenwolf

“tat is why” = That is why / typo


81 posted on 06/07/2019 9:17:03 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
I have never called my dad father
I think you just did. Unless I am recalling incorrectly or have been misinformed, Christ told his disciples to call God “Dad,” not “Father.”

Obviously we are communicating in English - and just as obviously, the Gospels were not originally written in English.


82 posted on 06/07/2019 9:44:19 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (Socialism is cynicism directed towards society and - correspondingly - naivete towards government.)
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To: Albion Wilde

:>)

Nonetheless, the meaning of the word is beyond the life of this poor sinner. Lord Jesus have mercy on me a sinner.

And He does.


83 posted on 06/07/2019 10:42:18 AM PDT by xzins (Retired US Army chaplain. Support our troops by praying for their victory.)
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To: marshmallow

To combat clericalism (which has yet to be coherently defined)


84 posted on 06/07/2019 11:37:48 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer.)
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To: ravenwolf

“many who introduce them selves as reverand [sic].”

That used to be the case. Back in the ‘50s and ‘60s my dad and uncles were OK being called, “Reverend”. Then evangelicals began to back off of that, believing it’s pretentious (being worthy of reverence, which they weren’t). Now it seems the only time I hear people calling themselves “Reverend” are some black preachers, e.g., J Jackson, A Sharpton, etc. Interestingly, most of the ones calling themselves that aren’t even real preachers or ordained. They just grab the title and run with it, thinking it sets them above others.


85 posted on 06/07/2019 1:07:52 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam
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To: marshmallow
This just in:

Catholic heads; all over the world; are exploding!


86 posted on 06/07/2019 2:26:45 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

I don’t lay the eggs; I just color them.

—Easter Bunny


87 posted on 06/07/2019 2:27:43 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Utah Binger

Nah.

Popcorn time for me on this one.

Jesus words are as clear on this one as when He said, “This is my body...”


88 posted on 06/07/2019 2:31:12 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Utah Binger

89 posted on 06/07/2019 2:36:18 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: MayflowerMadam

That used to be the case
_______________________

Yes I was not aware that it had changed, my knowlege
came from the 1970s


90 posted on 06/07/2019 5:12:29 PM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

I do not know what we are communicating in because
I have no idea what you are saying, true it was not
written in English and it was not spoken in Greek but
in Aramaic.


91 posted on 06/07/2019 5:30:00 PM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: Albion Wilde

Abba is as far as I can find the only Aramaic word for father.


92 posted on 06/07/2019 5:36:28 PM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: Buckeye McFrog
To combat clericalism (which has yet to be coherently defined)

On Clericalism - The Catholic Thing

The pejorative notion of clericalism has a number of different meanings. For many Protestants and secularists, this term simply means that the clergy have, and exercise, too much authority in the Catholic Church. Just how that’s their business is a mystery, unless they assume that the Church is somehow subject to their ideas and should conform to them.

For Catholics, clericalism usually refers to a kind of dominance of laity by clergy outside of their rightful spiritual authority. Pope Francis often speaks of this form of clericalism, in the way that clergy behave either in their regular daily pastoral work or in the political sphere.

St. Jose Maria Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, identified another kind of clericalism in those who try to turn the laity into pseudo-clerics – and identify the truly “committed” layperson as someone who directly serves the Church, rather than someone who is immersed as a Christian in social and political life.

But there is yet another form of clericalism that seems just as widespread today. This is the clericalism that assumes that many of the laity are simply incapable of really understanding the Church’s teachings or are incapable of living up to them when the demands are high. This is the kind of subtle but deadly clericalism Pope Paul VI hinted at in Humanae vitae.

It appears that the definition of Clericalism is a matter of perspective. In my opinion, the discussion of the matter itself implies opposing opinions as to men: whether the men be secular, protestant, lay or cleric. As well, the discussion of the matter implies a failure of the Church to teach clearly the meaning of and content of the Deposit of Faith. Catholics that put their faith in men rather than the Magisterium will always lose when inevitably men fall short as happened plainly with the sex abuse crisis.

As well, Catholics that do not possess a well-formed conscience premised upon the Magisterium may easily get lost and stray from His path when clerics fall short of teaching clearly the message of truth and instead focus on messengers.

93 posted on 06/07/2019 5:51:34 PM PDT by DBeers (The concept of peace in Islam requires not co-existence but submission.)
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To: metmom

Mostly the Greek interpretation goes well with what we know that
Jesus said in aramaic but the true meaning of his words comes in aramaic.

And there is some records, for instance Jesus used the word cephas on Simon
cephas is an aramaic word spoken by Jesus and no amount of Greek is going to
change that even though the anti Christ’s would love to change it.


94 posted on 06/07/2019 5:58:00 PM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: Albion Wilde

No, I have never did any of that even if it is hard for you to believe.

Believe it.


95 posted on 06/07/2019 6:01:19 PM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: Southside_Chicago_Republican

Are the Pauline Epistles scripture?.
_________________
Are what Jesus said true or is Jesus a liar?.


96 posted on 06/07/2019 6:05:55 PM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: ravenwolf

Of course, what Jesus said is true. Now, you answer my question.


97 posted on 06/07/2019 6:19:07 PM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.)
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To: ravenwolf

Since you’ve given no explanation for the situations I mentioned or similar, just repeated an incredible claim, I reserve my right not to believe you.


98 posted on 06/07/2019 6:31:46 PM 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
Easton's Bible Dictionary - Abba
This Syriac or Chaldee word is found three times in the New Testament (Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6), and in each case is followed by its Greek equivalent, which is translated "father." It is a term expressing warm affection and filial confidence. It has no perfect equivalent in our language. It has passed into European languages as an ecclesiastical term, "abbot."
Because JESUS says, "Abba, Father," in these three places in scripture, it leads me to believe that there are two different Aramaic expressions for father, and the original Greek manuscript of the scriptures made the distinction by using the Aramaic for Jesus' affectionate name for his father, followed by the formal Aramaic word for Father, whatever it is, translated into Greek.

I've always been told that "Abba" is an affectionate name, like Daddy or Papa. But the word Father can be both a name for a person, the name of a biological reality, or the name of a relationship status. It would be like our saying, "Daddy, Father."

The feminists can whine all they want, but there is a reason God directed the scriptures to reflect maleness for God and Jesus, even though God most probably does not have a male or female sex such as the way fleshly humans do. God wants males and femaels to relate to one another in certain ways, and not in others. That's why he gave specific instructions not to dress in the clothing of the opposite sex or engage in same-sex relations.

99 posted on 06/07/2019 6:53:14 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it. --Douglas MacArthur)
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To: Albion Wilde
But the Triune God is present in all of us believers who partake of the Body and Blood together.

Chapter and verse?

100 posted on 06/07/2019 7:08:21 PM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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