This is a controversy only in the minds of the ignorant or mischievous. The word used in Scripture was the Greek word "Pater" (πατήρ). According to Strong's Concordance (G3962) it has multiple meanings in Greek the majority of which do not impugn Catholics.
It is reasurring that anti-Catholics have to resort to fabricating difficulties out of whole cloth.
The Eastern Churches similarly use the title “father”. Abba, abouna, etc.
I fail to understand why Church history for Protestant polemicists starts around the year 1000 A.D.