CBS News in Miami is reporting that Father Alberto Cutié is set to bail on the Catholic Church in order to become an Episcopalian.
MIAMI (CBS4) CBS4 has learned that Father Alberto Cutié, who has been at the center of a major scandal over breaking his celibacy vow, is expected to leave the Catholic church and join the Episcopal church, according to a source inside the Episcopal church. Cutié is expected to begin the process of becoming an Episcopalian priest, which could take up to a year to complete.
Gosh, do people still do this sort of thing? It is so 1970’s. I mean lets face it, there is a large portion of Episcopalians that do not want to be Episcopalians. For me, this is a prime example of Fr. Cutié’s complete lack of imagination. He gets caught publicly sinning and he goes down boring road of trying to say that what he did is not a sin, rather it is the Church that has the problem. So in order to keep on keepin’ on, he bails on the Church to join an ecclesial community that is not all that interested in such rules, or Jesus for that matter.
I do give him some creativity points for getting caught with a woman, that was a twist. But becoming an episcopalian so he can get married? C’mon. Father I have a suggestion for you. Why don’t you do something almost unheard of these days. Repent of your sin and get your act together. Nobody will see that coming.
May 28, 2009 at 7:52 pm
After consecrating the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, after defending the Apostolic Church, he had to go with the EpiscoGAYlians?
Why not the Eastern Catholics?
Why not the Orthodox, which continue to have Aspotolic sucesion?
why with the church that comes from a broken institution founded by the mistress of a King?
Why couldn’t Alberto serve in the Church that he defended and served for years???
May 28, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Perhaps because he would lose his very lucrative TV and radio personality status. While I hope that this is not the case, Univision may want to keep him.
May 28, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Some apostolic churches ordain married men, but none allows an ordained man to marry. Thus the defection to the episcopalians. For that this wretched man has thrown away his priesthood. I pity him and anyone in future who relies upon his good faith.
Romulus
May 28, 2009 at 9:13 pm
The Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox might sound like reasonable options, since married men may become priests. But neither unmarried priests (nor deacons) may marry in the Eastern churches. Widowered priests are expected to remain celibate or return to the lay state if they marry again.
Therefore, I think Fr. Cutie’s options were fewer than suggested.
I might add that contrary to the article’s assertion, most Episc./Anglicans’s views on the eucharist are quite similar to that of their Catholic neighbors. Like the Orthodox, the Anglicans may not have a parsed-out legal doctrine of Transubstantiation, but they too believe that the bread and wine are confected to become the Body and Blood of Christ.
Perhaps this turn of events is best for all in the long run.
fwiw,
jay
May 28, 2009 at 9:14 pm
This says a lot for Cutie. I have no problem with men who have been called to serve in the priesthood (or other holy orders) for part of their lives then called to go on to form a family. But when they leave the church because it’s not “convenient” for a sect, it shows they are putting their will over that of God, and they didn’t really have a true calling to begin with. He obviously is just used to being a clergiman, so for him any religion will do. So, good ridance.
This could have been a LOT worse. So, we should be grateful it ended quietly and with as little scandal as possible.
May 28, 2009 at 9:44 pm
“why with the church that comes from a broken institution founded by the mistress of a King?”
Iliana I agree wholeheartedly
I am from South Florida, I know his parish well and I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt in the beggining of this matter.
However, ever since this transpired his “interviews”, new evidence of collusion between his girlfriend (and possibly him) and the photographers and this self-serving transition when he was supposed to be on a retreat???
He was holed up in Venice Beach with his Guatemalan girlfriend.
That Right Rev Frade is a snake, he was on local TV and was asked if this was in the works and denied it, although they are personal friends and had “consulted” him.
May 28, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I Feel sorry for him. What he thinks is out there…ain’t out there. In a little while he’ll be singing with Bono,”…but I still…haven’t found…what I’m lookin’ for.”
May 28, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I once met a man that had followed the same path, i.e. got ordained, fell in love, joined the Episcopalians, got married, and was still working as a priest. He was probably one of the saddest people I’ve ever met. A conservative, perhaps even a trad, to boot.
May 28, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Episcopalian – appropriate choice for him to join a Church founded by a King who couldn’t keep his “pantaloons” on
May 28, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Jay – as an FYI, SOME Piskies/Anglickers believe in the real presence. The truth is, they believe whatever they want. That’s what they call the “beauty of Anglicanism/Episcopalianism”. There is a Calvinist wing and a “catholic” wing in the same religion, which is why they are always squabbling and going back and forth.
May 29, 2009 at 1:26 am
When the dust settles there are some really legitimate questions that need to be asked about priestly formation in this diocese.
May 29, 2009 at 2:05 am
Good riddance.
May 29, 2009 at 2:33 am
Vocations Office
9401 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami Shores, FL 33138
OFFICE: 305-762-1137
FAX: 305-754-7762
Vocations Director
Fr. Roberto Garza
Administrative Assistant
Ileana Valecillos Roque
E-Mail: vocations@theadom.org
May 29, 2009 at 3:01 am
Requiring life long celibacy of healthy men makes the Catholic Church…a rather freakish cult.
May 29, 2009 at 3:51 am
They will know we are Christians by our love? Not apparently on this blog.
May 29, 2009 at 4:05 am
Yes you are right anon, health men have to have sex. They are mere animals that will explode without it.
May 29, 2009 at 7:47 am
Prayers for all involved. This is a very sad situation, and I pray Fr Cutie, and the woman he’s seeing, return to the Church.
May 29, 2009 at 7:50 am
Requiring life long promiscuity from healthy men makes Anon,,, a rather freakish cultist.
May 29, 2009 at 11:20 am
When a guy’s called Father Oprah, and his name sounds like body lice, or kissing, you gotta know ahead of time;)!
Father Oprah has joined the Episcopal church, which has gay bishops, after getting with a female, gotta see da irony;)!
May 29, 2009 at 12:55 pm
STATEMENT from John C. Favalora, Archbishop of Miami,
Miami • May 28, 2009
http://www.miamiarchdiocese.org/ip.asp?op=H1000090528ACE
I am genuinely disappointed by the announcement made earlier this afternoon by Father Alberto Cutié that he is joining the Episcopal Church.
According to our canon law, with this very act Father Cutié is separating himself from the communion of the Roman Catholic Church (c. 1364, §1) by professing erroneous faith and morals, and refusing submission to the Holy Father (canon 751). He also is irregular for the exercise of sacred orders as a priest (canons 1041 and 1044, §1) and no longer has the faculties of the Archdiocese of Miami to celebrate the sacraments; nor may he preach or teach on Catholic faith and morals (cannon 1336, §1). His actions could lead to his dismissal from the clerical state.
This means that Father Cutié is removing himself from full communion with the Catholic Church and thereby forfeiting his rights as a cleric. Roman Catholics should not request the sacraments from Father Cuité. Any sacramental actions he attempts to perform would be illicit. Any Mass he says would be valid but illicit, meaning it does not meet a Catholic’s obligation. Father Cutié cannot validly officiate at marriages of Roman Catholics in the Archdiocese of Miami or anywhere.
Father Cutié is still bound by his promise to live a celibate life, which he freely embraced at ordination. Only the Holy Father can release him from that obligation.
…..
When Father Cutié met with me on May 5th, he requested and I granted a leave of absence from the exercise of the priesthood. Because of this, he could no longer be the administrator of St Francis de Sales Parish or the General Director of Radio Paz. For the good of the Church and to avoid the media frenzy, I chose not to impose publicly an ecclesiastical penalty, although his admitted actions clearly warranted it. Since that meeting, I have not heard from Father Cutié nor has he requested to meet with me. He has never told me that he was considering joining the Episcopal Church.
I must also express my sincere disappointment with how Bishop Leo Frade of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida has handled this situation. Bishop Frade has never spoken to me about his position on this delicate matter or what actions he was contemplating. I have only heard from him through the local media. This truly is a serious setback for ecumenical relations and cooperation between us. The Archdiocese of Miami has never made a public display when for doctrinal reasons Episcopal priests have joined the Catholic Church and sought ordination. In fact, to do so would violate the principles of the Catholic Church governing ecumenical relations. I regret that Bishop Frade has not afforded me or the Catholic community the same courtesy and respect.
…..
Most Reverend John C. Favalora
Archbishop of Miami