Alberto Cutie, 'Father Oprah,' Leaves Catholic Church, Joins Epsicopal Church After Being Photographed Kissing His Girlfriend

MIAMI — A popular priest known as "Father Oprah" has left the Roman Catholic Church and joined the Episcopal Church less than a month after a tabloid published photos of him cavorting on the beach with his girlfriend in a scandal that rocked South Florida's Spanish-speaking community.

On Thursday, as thunder boomed outside and paparazzi cameras flashed, the Rev. Alberto Cutie (KOO'-tee-ay) held a news conference at the pulpit of the Episcopal Church's Trinity Cathedral. Standing behind him: the Episcopal bishop, a half-dozen Episcopal priests and his girlfriend.

He did not talk about his relationship with the woman, who has been identified in local media as 35-year-old divorcee Ruhama Buni Canellis, or if he has plans to marry her. He did say in a statement that he "began to have spiritual and deep ideological struggles" and "has seen the ways that many of my brothers serve God as married men, with the blessing of forming a family."

Cutie was removed from his Miami Beach Catholic church after photos of him smooching and embracing a woman appeared in the pages of a Spanish-language magazine earlier this month. With his leading man good looks, appearances in local newspapers' social pages and as the host of a TV show, Cutie is one of South Florida's most recognizable characters.

Cutie is scheduled to deliver a sermon this Sunday at his new church, which received him in a ceremony Thursday, but must complete other requirements before serving as an Episcopal priest.

The Episcopal Church allows its priests to marry and date. The Catholic Church requires them to be celibate.

Cutie thanked supporters and asked the media to respect his privacy. He said his decision did not come quickly.

"I have searched my soul and sought God's guidance for a long time," he said.

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He said his struggle "should in no way tarnish the commitment of so many brother priests who are celibate and faithful to their promise."

That struggle was news to Archbishop John Favalora, who said he met with Cutie on May 5, after the photos were published, and that the priest didn't indicate he was wrestling with such thoughts. In a statement, he admonished the 40-year-old Cutie and Episcopal leaders in Miami.

"He has never told me that he was considering joining the Episcopal Church," Favalora said. "(The Episcopal Bishop) has never spoken to me about his position on this delicate matter or what actions he was contemplating. This truly is a serious setback for ecumenical relations and cooperation between us."

Added Favalora: "It's unsettling to the faith, that's why it's a scandal. But the church has been through scandals before _ the church will survive."

Cutie headed the archdiocese's Radio Paz and Radio Peace broadcasts, heard throughout the Americas and in Spain, and earned the nickname "Father Oprah" for his relationship advice. Since the scandal broke, bloggers have commented on his "dreamy" blue eyes.

The Cuban-American priest was born in Puerto Rico and previously hosted shows on Telemundo, the second-largest Spanish-language network in the U.S. and the Western Hemisphere. He is also a syndicated Spanish-language columnist and author of the book "Real Life, Real Love: 7 Paths to a Strong, Lasting Relationship."

Earlier this month, Cutie told CBS he has been romantically involved with the woman in the photos for about two years after being friends for much longer.

"I believe that I've fallen in love and I believe that I've struggled with that, between my love for God, and my love for the church and my love for service," Cutie said. Cutie maintains that he supports the Catholic Church's stand that priests should be celibate and does not want to become the "anti-celibacy priest."

After the scandal, more than 100 people gathered outside Cutie's former parish in Miami Beach, waving posters and chanting their forgiveness of the popular cleric. On Thursday, news of Cutie's religious switch inundated Spanish-language talk radio.

Cutie, during his brief statement to the media on Thursday, said he was "humbled" by the tsunami of support. His girlfriend _ dressed in a gray suit and pink lipstick _ said nothing. When Cutie was finished speaking, a TV reporter shouted in Spanish, "Father Alberto, we are live," and Cutie, and the woman, smiled and walked away from the pulpit.

Comments

[wsblake]

The Catholic Church has to change and allow priests to marry or no one will join the priesthood. As it stands now, it only attracts men who frequently are sexually dysfunctional.

[daffey]

Not really. The rates of abuse in Protestant denominations are no less. They just aren't as big, don't have the money, and don't get the attention. I was part of over a dozen different protestant districts in three separate denominations in four different states, and not one year passed without some sexual abuse/mole­station/sc­andal happening. The same is true for the school districts we have lived in (my wife being a teacher for several years), especially if preschools are included. And both teachers and protestant denominations attract a surprising amount of married people.

We have a problem, and sometimes I fear that we use the Catholic Church as a scapegoat, assuming the problem is there and with its particular practices, instead of standing back and realizing that the criminal stats suggest it is nothing of the kind.

Plus, many denominations with married clergy are also experiencing drops in those who are joining the ranks. In fact, some of the denominations that are the most open to the most people are having the most problems both with the number of clergy, as well as the number of members in general.

But your's is an oft repeated assumption that, unfortunately, is not born of facts. The facts point more to our society as a whole. Which might be a tough pill to swallow.

[pammygamherst]

there is not a chapter/verse in the bible that indicates a priest must be celibate. the church came up with this because in earlier centuries the eldest son in the family usually became a priest. when the parents died, the eldest son inherited all properties; hence, if the son were a priest and he died, the church got the property.

it was purely economics that made the pope/church create this arcane rule. how do you think the church became so wealthy?

[redkim]

Does that make breaking the vow of celibacy okay?

[OverIt]

Sure does. No problem with him actually breaking the vow. It's the sneaking around and lying about it for two years that's bad.

[roblabrousse]

Religious organizations have to stop trying to control people's sex lives period.

[daffey]

Don't kid yourself. Everyone tries to control people's sex lives. Just think sex education. Remember, the original sex revolution was based on 'Hey! We're all just animals! Animals have sex naturally. Why can't we? Everyone have sex with everyone! What could possibly go wrong now that we've thrown out the old, dumb religious taboos!!!'

Then - AIDS.

Well, since then it's sort of like, "Hey! We're all just animals. But, we should practice safe (at least safer), sex. Use condoms. Stop in the middle of the sex and put it on. Oh, and if you are sexually active with multiple partners, having blood screenings and check ups is something you should consider. Oh, and maybe we need to really start pressing on people the need to follow these suggestions, or rules....

We tried the 'no rules, just right' approach. 35 million AIDS victims later, we decided some rules and standards need to be applied, which the old timers knew all along.

[daffey]

There is nothing that the Church says Holy Writ supports this. As they say, just ask St. Peter's mother-in-law. It was a practice born of the advice of St. Paul. It was not solidified in stone for many years, because if we think there are problems with priests today, we need to look back a thousand years. It was finally decided enough is enough. Take what was a preferred suggestion (if you want to serve, stay single), and make it the rule. It could be changed. But anyone who thinks changing it will solve the problems need only look at various protestant denominations. Many, who have married clergy by the way, are having problems with losing numbers, as well as the typical difficulties we see in the Catholic Church that are actually common to much of our culture.

But it wasn't economics. It was trying to put a lid on corruption. Remember, in those days princes and kings could pick bishops and clergy as much as the Church, and if you could be married (or have multiple mistresses - which many did), what was to prevent the wealth and power seeking individual to use the Church to climb the ladder? One need only see the millionaire ministers of today to understand that. Taking away one big benefit of life was seen as a possible added benefit, in that it might make sure that at least more who went into the clergy were doing it for the right reasons.

[TwoWheels]

Actually, this guy demonstrates more moral behavior than I would normally expect of a Catholic priest.

[fiduciaryatlarge]

This truly is a serious setback for ecumenical relations and cooperation between us."

Guess that tolerance and forgiveness thing only applies to others.

[kid5rivers2]

How refreshing to hear of an RC priest NOT fondling boys! That aside, it's time the RC Church goes back to its original moorings: let priests marry and have families!

[HC4BO]

And just like that, the Catholic Church just lost the ONLY priest who did NOT make all of them look like a brotherhood of the sexual deviants ...

[barrycourage]

Not the ONLY priest. Please.

However, if he were a member of that "brotherhood," he would still be a member of that church.

[joeinvt]

Did they run out of altar boys?

[tony4sure]

I'm sure there are plenty of those around.

[OverIt]

Incredible that parents would continue to offer up their young ones like that, huh?

[daffey]

Now, now. Not nice. There are plenty of good, caring, and sincere priests out there.

[Hendrix650]

What is this, THE THORNBIRDS-THE PRIEST IN HEAT. No wonder he switched, its pretty hard to talk the talk when THE LITTLE PRIEST WON'T WALK THE WALK. I think we all know WHICH HEAD he is thinking with.

[filo]

Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged!

[Mathend99]

I've heard him on TV and I personally think he is a dork.

[Melissa]

He should have resigned before he got caught.

[OverIt]

As a recovering Catholic (please feel free to point me to an appropriate 12-step program) I would not be surprised if this "convenient" and swift resolution were 100% sanctioned by the Catholic Church, at the highest levels.

At first, Alberto seemed ready to take up the celibacy fight (even if for purely selfish reasons ). Given his insane popularity not only in the US but throughout Latin America and surprising polls results showing that up to 80% of practicing Catholics polled wanted the issue of mandatory celibacy revisited in the wake of Father Cutie’s scandal, I think the Church was in a hurry to see him make a graceful/graceless exit ASAP.

It would also not surprise me if a generous golden parachute and a conversion of at least some of his sizable book royalties from the Church back to his personal coffers were part of the “deal”.

I have taken to calling Father Cutie “Father QT” or “Padre Britney” because his behavior has been narcissistic and unprincipled. A step above Hollywood shenanigans. Though I disagree with mandatory celibacy, I am disappointed in his “me me me” approach to handling this sensitive situation.

That said, in the pantheon of priestly offenses of the past years, this is relatively mild. The abuse and systemic cover-up and shuffling around of predators are the reasons I now count myself as an expat of the Church. In fact, my very first thought was that it was at least with a consenting adult.

[daffey]

Let me guess. You're not a fan of the Catholic Church.

[OverIt]

Whatever gave you that idea? Ha!

It took a lot to turn me away but by golly it seemed that they were determined. I rationalized quite a bit for a long time but the systematic rape of children and enabling of pedophiles was the final straw. When I can no longer tell the difference between NAMBLA and my church is when I lose my religion. . . literally.

[darker]

catholic church is too "holier than thou" to exist, at the rate they are going.

Fr Cutie may or may not stop being a hypocrite by switching to Episcopalians.

Bottom line: humans have IMAGINATION that enables them to INVENT RELIGION.
Religion, music, visual art, writing are the product of HUMAN IMAGINATION.
Animals don't have imagination or religion. THE PLUS: There are far fewer wars within animal groups.

[LorettaSingbiel]

Animals aren't obsessed about what will happen to them after they die.

The REASON for religion: A crutch for those unable to accept the FINALITY of death.

IF ONLY the religulous were more compassionate about protecting the LIVES in the HERE & NOW, instead of the "SOULS" in the BEFORE & AFTER...

[305Rider]

Hopefully the Vatican will take the hint now.

[DrDemon]

zzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzzzzzz­ZZZZZZZZZZ­ZZZZZZZZZZ­ZZZZZZ!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!

[SamEllison]

Oh no, he's gone Episcopalian!