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Mr. Ratzinger?

LOL

Are you another one of those people who refuse to use official terminology of the Catholic Church?

Are you another one of those people who refuse to use official terminology of the Catholic Church?

Perhaps we should start calling their pastors, "head snakehandler."

A polite title for all ministers in the 17th and 18th centuries when speaking in the third person was Mr. _________. At least in English-speaking countries. People used to say, Mr. Wesley,” “Mr. Spurgeon,” “Mr. Whitefield.”

But I will also say that I have no obligation to use Catholic titles for any sinner on earth. In keeping, I was ordained, and I will not respond if someone addresses me as “Reverend.” I'm absolutely deaf to it. “Brother” is appropriate from Christian to Christian, and that is what I respond to.

I teach the women in our church to "reverence" their own husbands (Ephesians 5; last verse - KJB), NOT their pastor. Just a note for “emerging church” crowd. We live in a day when young people are calling their ministers by their given first name. I consider that disrespectful. But then, I consider it disrespectful for anyone many years junior to address their senior by their given first name without an appropriate word up front like “Brother” (if Christian), or “Mister.” Teenagers and children should still use the senior's surname. If a teenager addresses me by my given name alone, I don't know that teenager is in the room. If he persists, I will rebuke and correct him, in front of a crowd if necessary. Evidently such a one NEEDS a parent.

But “Mr. Ratzinger” is polite and quite sufficient.