Here is a local story that you probably heard about. Catholic Priest Alberto Cutié was photographed frolicking on the beach with a WOMAN about a month ago. Several days after the “incident” became public, Father Cutié went on a national morning show and said he was in love with the woman and he was going to pray about what to do.
Father Cutié is a popular priest and had TV and radio shows. It was big news in Miami when this story broke. Many people speculated that he wanted to get caught so that he could protest the Roman Catholic Church’s stance on priests remaining celibate. He said in interviews that he did not want to be the poster-boy for changing celibacy rules in the Church.
When Father Cutié was removed from his church, I had the feeling that a public fight of the ability of priests to marry was coming. Father Cutié took the high road and backed out of the spotlight to contemplate his future. No one heard from him publicly for weeks.
Today Father Cutié announced that he had joined the Episcopal Church and will get married to the woman he was photographed with. He looked happy. I am happy for him. Not every one is. The Archbishop of Miami, John Favalora is a little bit miffed and told us so in a statement. Like an angry child stamping his foot, Favalora fired a couple of shots Father Cutié’s direction. The most ridiculous was telling us that Father Cutié must remain celibate because “[Father Cutié] is still bound by the promise to live the celibate life which he freely embraced at ordination. Only the Holy Father can release him from the obligation”.
Ummmm….did he miss the memo that Father Cutié was leaving the Church? Is this threat supposed to intimidate him? Father Cutié took his ball and went home. Elvis has left the building. Turn out the lights, the party’s over. I can’t think of any more metaphors, but it clear to me that Favalora doesn’t get to tell Father Cutié what to do anymore. I hope Father Cutié has a happy and fulfilled life telling the world about the good news that Jesus Christ saves, even if he does it while being married.
Yet another self-gratifying new-age American taking the easy way out. You make a life-changing vow, you freely accept a “non democratic” way of life in the church and give up certain “freedoms.” You make the irrevocable personal choice to follow the rule. It becomes too tough for you when your little head begins to control your big head. You can stick with it, speak to priests who have had the issue and resolved it, or do you take the easy way out and pick the nicest religion that suits your carnal needs? I have this mental image of him praying with the angel and devil from National Lampoon’s Animal House on his shoulders. I can hear him rationalizing: “Hey, people change, lives change, we move on.”
My opinion has nothing to do with how I feel about celibate priests. It is a comment on the personal integrity of someone who has found an easy exit door when faced with challenges in his life. Ptui!
There are many who share your opinion of this situation. The paper is filled with comments. I am not Catholic, so I may be more detached than some from the institutional ramifications, but I don’t see it as him quitting because he was faced by a challenge, I think he fell in love and was struggling with this for two years.
May I remind you that his first love was the Catholic Church. Life is all about struggles, you cant run away from them.
While there are many sides voiced to this issue, a review of history puts an interesting spin on why celibacy is required by the Church. The items I have read indicate it is was formerly more of a property issue when priests died, as opposed to teachings in the beginning.
I am not Catholic, but think I can understand why those who have had this concept and belief their entire lives will stick to it. Change is sometimes hard to adjust to, especially if contrary to years of established doctrine. He is certainly not the first priest to leave for this reason.
I think it is also an interesting comparison with how the past scandals involving clergy and young men were addressed by the Church. At least no laws were broken or attorneys invloved in prolonged battles.
I think Father Cutie has made a good personal decision. He is still able to serve God and his fellow man with the Episcopal clergy, and find happiness in his heart. He choose not to make it a fight within the Catholic Church, but to leave and find another way to serve.
Good for him!
Popes use to be married, then stopped and all sorts of changes have gone on. Why these changes? As it is today, follow the money………. then and now. I suspect God must be embarrassed by all the religions that use his name in vain. I will lump 99% of the organized religons in this percentage. The irony is maybe the devil is in control of them all……… The pied piper.
Back to the priest, I wish him the best. He is not perfect nor should the the Archbishop throw stones while living in a glass house. At least it was a woman………
I thought long about what to say about this posting. I will not cast a stone at Father Cutie, for I suffer from many sins. What I will say, is that having been married twice qualifies me to make the following statement. He will soon see that answering to God was easier that being married!!! God forgives.