What I was always taught was that the priests who stood up at the front of the church were called Father out of respect and because they are a link to God. Here is what one site said on the subject...."The spiritual fatherhood of the priest is intended to be a sign of the depth of intimacy and relationship which those in the life of the Church have with their leaders, a relationship based on the priest's role in our second birth, our birth in the Gospel - our baptism. Just as our biological father has an important role in our birth and continuing nurture, so the priest - as the one who baptizes us - has an important role in our second birth, our birth "from above…of water and the Spirit" (John 3:3-5)." That website was http://www.stpaulsirvine.org/html/father.htm
Now, I know that the Jesus says in the Bible "Call no man on Earth your father, for you have one Father who is in heaven" but if he meant it that literally, then why did He also say "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they died." Even the Apostle Paul talks about fathers in the Bible. Calling a priest "Father" is "a term of endearment, of intimacy, and love." That's all. : )
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