My friend went to the life in the seminar to recieve the Holy Spirit and His gifts. One of the ladies who was doing hands on was a prayer group leader and always used the words "Father God" when she was speaking of "God the Father". Are these word appropriate in the Catholic Religion as my friend only heard her protestant friend speak this way once?

Mind you within the seminar there are also 3 priests present.

-- DJ (newfiedufie@msn.com), February 26, 2005

Answers

bump

-- DJ (newfiedufie@msn.com), February 26, 2005.

Yes, that is a perfectly appropriate way to address God. God our Father, Father God, or just Father. Jesus our Lord, Lord Jesus, or just Lord. All are equally acceptable.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), February 26, 2005.

God the Father is a formal theological term. Father God is usually used those who have some relationship with God the Father.

-- Leslie John (lesliemon@hotmail.com), February 26, 2005.

that is a perfectly appropriate way to address God. +++ Father God

The above is a personal opinion, not something that the Catholic Church has taught. I myself will avoid the term, until encouraged by the Church to use it, because the "jury is still out" on whether or not it is "perfectly appropriate."

The reason I say that I will not use the term is twofold.

#1. NOWHERE in any of the thousands of official prayers of the Church (in the Mass, in the sacramental rites, in the Liturgy of the Hours, etc.), is the term "Father God" to be found. It is not used by the Church as a term that is descriptive of God (e.g., "We have a Father God"), and it is not used as a term of address (e.g., "Dear Father God," as some Catholics now use it in informal prayer).

#2. NOWHERE in the hundreds of Church documents at the Vatican's site are we told, or given permission, to use the term "Father God" (Pater Deus, Padre Dio, etc.).

Always, both in prayer and in theological discussion, the Catholic Church speaks of, or to, "God the Father" or "God, our Father." I think that there could be a concern that the term "Father God" may have a problem involving theological imprecision, or that some people may be tempted to "balance" the term by speaking of "Mother Goddess." My personal opinion is that the very term, "Father God," sounds/feels weird and improper, just as weird and improper as "Son God" and "Spirit God" would. These latter two, which I have never heard (thank God!), would be "partial twistings" of our customary names for the Second and Third Persons of the Trinity, just as "Father God" is a partial twisting of "God the Father."

I believe that it is very likely that, prior to about 1968, no Catholic EVER used the term, "Father God," in spoken or written word. I believe that, after Vatican II (though not because of the Council), the term "Father God" was "imported" by a group of English- speaking Catholics from a certain "wing" of American Protestantism. That does not automatically make it improper, but it could leave it open to a future negative ruling by the Holy See, on theological or prudential grounds. Unless/until the Church formally adopts it, I recommend that its use be avoided.

Clete

-- (cboyer@archnet.net), February 26, 2005.