[metmom]

The Catholic Church NEVER denies the authority of Scripture, as you charge. It teaches nothing that contradicts what is taught in Scripture.

Matthew 23: 8-10 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I suggest the connotation here is not to put any man in God’s shoes with respect to yourself. That was a Jewish practice which still lives on today in rabbinic Judaism.

The bible itself says elsewhere that to the church are given pastors and teachers (or pastor-teachers). This can’t contradict the meaning of this passage. Christ was sometimes a bit cryptic, expecting us to deduce His intentions under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as well as whatever of the context we can grasp.

[Iscool]

Matthew 23: 8-10 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

I'll bet they would be hard pressed to find a Catholic who calls his own father, 'Father', yet they call their clergy Father...Just exactly as Jesus told them not to do...

[Iscool]

Matthew 23: 8-10 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

I'll bet they would be hard pressed to find a Catholic who addresses his own father as 'Father', yet they address their clergy as Father...Just exactly as Jesus told them not to do...