Vicars

[Cathy]

As male vicars are called Father, what should you call female vicars? Calling them Mother doesn't seem quite right, really, but what do you think.

[Cathy]

I just wondered if there is a feminine equivalent, as our local vicar is always called Father (maybe because it's quite a high church).

[kevo]

Ithought it was only catholic priests that are called father.

[andy hughes]

Strictly speaking, the term 'Father' is used for a Roman Catholic priest, and of course there is no female equivalent (yet!) so if high church Angicans like to adopt the term, their female equivalents would have to be referred to as 'Reverend'.

[WendyW]

Anglo Catholics (often called High Church) continued to use the term Father after the split from Rome. I suppose that if a female priest was sent to an Anglo Catholic Church then they probably would use a form of address acceptable to both sides. As yet I don't know that the situation has arisen.

[Andromeda]

Hmm, may be *this* is the real reason the Vatican does not want female priests .....