Matthew 23:9 "Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven."
Most references to "father" in the bible refer to human beings who in one way or another serve as foster fathers.
There are 1,511 references to father, fathers. etc. in the King James version of Sacred Scripture. Most of these do not refer to God the Father!
One example is;
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. [Matthew 3:9]
Jesus here made no reference that their concept of "our father Abraham" was in error.
The use of the word "father," in regards to priests, only means that a priest acts as a spiritual guide under the authority of God the Father.
This verse in the bible is a message called a metaphor. It is figurative language used as a method of teaching and not meant to be taken literally, it is a way of getting across a message.
Calling a priest "father" does not "lift up" the priest, thats utter nonsense.