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.