Not siding with the Catholic church but the translation of the word “father” as in “call no man father” actually means “call no man creator (father of creation).
Actually, the word in the Greek is pater - father.
http://biblos.com/matthew/23-9.htm
pater
http://concordances.org/greek/3962.htm
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: patér
Short Definition: father, Father, ancestor
Definition: father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior.
3962 patḗr – father; one who imparts life and is committed to it; a progenitor, bringing into being to pass on the potential for likeness.
Considering the claims made of Catholic priests, I submit that the instruction from Jesus is still valid.
Another reason is that in context, He was talking about titles given to religious leaders. He specifically prohibits calling religious leaders by the title *father* and He gives the reason.
Matthew 23:1-12 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.
8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
It would make no sense for Jesus to prohibit calling other men *creator* as that would be self-evident that they are not.
It does? What is your basis for saying that?