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Also, that "call no man father" reference comes from Matthew 23:9. Just before that, in Matthew 23:2-3, Jesus instructs folks to observe and do whatever the Scribes and Pharisees bid you to observe and do. Brother Elsie, do you obey that directive from Jesus Christ, and "observe and do" whatever the Scribes and Pharisees bid you to observe and do?

You mean the same scribes and pharisees that Jesus called hypocrites and white washed tombs full of dead men's bones?

Do Catholics?

And as for Protestants, no we don't do everything the scribes and pharisees bid us to observe and do. For one thing, we are no longer under the Law. It's not a requirement for Christians.

Another is that that was the priestly system of Judaism. That does not apply to Christians. Matter of fact, God did away with it and had the Temple destroyed on top of it, to prevent any further practice of it.

And none of that is still any excuse to ignore the clear concise command of Jesus to not call religious leaders by the title *Father*, as the context VERY CLEARLY shows.

All this nonsense that we keep hearing spouted about *Well, kids call their fathers *Dad* and Paul called himself a father to others* is nothing more than rationalization to disobey Jesus.

It's a very weak argument to that has been used too many times to rationalize disobedience.

So instead of excusing doing it, why doesn't Roman Catholicism demand that it's membership not use the word at all, instead of demanding they use it and rationalize it away?