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

[demfriend]

The Catholics believe as they do and they have their church leader the Pope and all of the pomp etc so this guy has known all along the way the church believes and what he has been doing is againest what he said he believed and would do/follow. The choice to be with a female while remaining a priest has long been at issue and he isn't the first nor the last. A friends was fathered by a "Father" when he left the church to get married and while he was married twice and lived with another woman making it three times he fathered children with these three women (and who knows who else as he slept with many no doubt) which meant he left the church three times at least for women, and the church always took him back into their fold.

[StopGlobalWarmingBeVegan]

I think he needs to learn how to meditate with a living master to achieve enlightenment.

[Aranxa]

We are all by nature subject to failings. The blessing of being Catholic is that when you realize these transgressions and confess and apologize to God you will be forgiven. It is ashamed that this man did not feel that he had transgressed from his vows and could be forgiven and continue with his vows in the future. However, a vocation is a special calling from God. When he realized he was not really called he should have just have stepped down from the priesthood, not changed religion to have his career and his relationship. The Church would embrace him as a married lay person, which is just as much of a sacrament as priesthood.

[LorettaSingbiel]

"he should have just have stepped down from the priesthood, not changed religion"

Why not change religion to a religion less antiquated?!

[tydicea]

While I am glad that man is following his heart and his conscience by changing denominations, I can't help but feel his hypocrisy. Had he not been caught on the beach with his woman he'd be giving mass this Sunday in a catholic church. I also have to applaud him.....it is refreshing to hear of a catholic priest with an adult woman as opposed to a pre-adolescent or adolescent boy.

[SuburbanMalcontent]

This isn't a scandal. The REAL scandal is that so many people build their lives upon a book of fiction and a corrupt former nazi dressed in goofy robes and expensive italian shoes. The only difference between a cult like Jonestown or the Branch Davidian and the Catholic Church is the amount of swindled followers.

[Chynna Castillo]

He deserves the Catholic's criticisms for breaking his vow and hiding the relationship til it was out in the open. For non Catholics, the criticism could have been he change religion for his own convenience.
Personally I'm happy that he did these things for the woman. As someone pointed out, it's a breath of fresh air, not your typical priest and kid news.Inste­ad it's "Priest leaves Church for the sake of girlfriend­."
As a former Catholic and sister of a Catholic Priest, i would have been overjoyed over the scenario.

[never-ever-give-up]

As a current Catholic, I am proud of the Father for following his heart and being human. Judge not lest you be judges. He deserves no one 's criticism. Man is fallible.

[LMPE]

Could be worse. He could have been molesting children.

[Mathend99]

What makes you think he hasn't already?

[imsixftsix]

you sound like an angry Catholic girl

[alwaysthere]

Her and her Orchid Wisdom
Complicated
Beautiful
Desirable
And men and heir dim wit
God mad us this way
Know why ?

He just can't get enough of it

[We-Are-The-Ones]

I don't see why the Episcopalian would want him. He clearly ignores his vows when it is convenient for him. What will he ignore next?

I hope they watch him.

[socalgal59]

I don't know why the Catholic doesn't want him. At least he is engaged in a consensual relationship with an adult woman. Instead, the Catholic church chooses to keep and protect the thousands of pedophile priests who rape and terrorize our children. A priest who violates a child is doing more than violating his vows--he is violating the law. Yet the Catholic church protects such criminals, shields him from the police, prosecutors, parents, victims, and public.

Each time a pedophile priest is discovered in our midst, the Catholic church reassigns him to another perish where he continues to rape and abuse the children.

[gifu]

"I hope they watch him." Jeez Louize, that sounds so crazy.....­...

[vtawriter]

You don't just march into your local Episcopal bishop and get made a priest in that church on the spot. Part of the process involves assessing the motives and integrity of someone who want to be a priest. It took my brother seven years to become an Episcopal priest. Because he has much of the required education, it might not take Padre Cutie that long, but you can be sure he's going to have to learn a lot about his new church, marry his girlfriend and settle into that life, repent of and reflect on his misdeeds (oh, yes, Episcopalians take vows seriously, too) , and go through a fairly rigorous process before he becomes a priest of that church.

[escribacat]

That's what I call a quick two-step.

[kewe]

forget whether he lied after taking an oath. to me this is a remarkable because of his *choice*. when the catholic church said that marriage was between a man and woman, i don't think they had in mind that someone would have to leave the church and change religion to get married. he chose marriage - or the possibility of it - over his church. to me that just says the church - any church - holds no moral ground over marriage of any kind.

[redkim]

The real scandal is the breaking of the vow and that he lied. He could have left the priesthood and married this woman without causing scandal.

[kewe]

scandal or not, my point is the same

[Roses]

No. It just shows that his love for this woman was greater than his love of his church. Just one individual. Somebody else may have made a different choice.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

The vow of chastity is purportedly made to God.

[SensibleJoe]

Following ancient Christian tradition, the Orthodox and Episcopal churches ordain married men to the priesthood. Roman Catholicism would do well to follow suit, rather than put unnecessary burdens on people (see Luke 11:46) that lead to scandals like that. After all, Saint Peter the Apostle, on whom Roman Catholicism claims to be founded, had a wife and a mother-in-law, as recorded in the Bible.

Would to God that the Roman Catholic establishment got as upset and acted as quickly in cases of clergy pedophilia, rather than hiding, aiding and abetting it, as it got upset and acted quickly in the case of this priest.

Father Cutie was wrong to break his vow and hide his inner conflict from his congregation, but at least he's moving past his lapse and trying to do something where he can follow God.

And for the sake of accuracy, the Episcopal Church received him into its fellowship as a layman, not a priest. The Episcopal Church has a fairly lengthy and intense "discernment process" for potential clergy, with no guarantee that ordination and ministry will be allowed.

[lillibelle]

Thank you for such a sensible post, Joe. From your post to the Pope's ear!

[keifergodot]

Yes, thank you for your cogent comments.

[JCane526]

Spot on comments..­. and yes the Episcopal Church has a very lengthy discernment and a committee in our (Miami) diocese happens to be involved in one at the moment. It will be some time before another is put together if he would like to join the clergy.

I am a member of the church mentioned above... I'll save a seat for Cutie and his lady friend this Sunday.

[farseer]

"Following ancient Christian tradition, the Orthodox and Episcopal churches ordain married men to the priesthood­." But there is a significant difference between the Orthodox and the Episcopal churches. The ancient tradition of the Orthodox Church is that it ordains married men, but does not marry ordained men. In other words, it allows a man to be marry and then be ordained afterwards -- but it does not allow a man who is already ordained, to be engage in the process of wife-seeking (i.e. dating) or to marry. (Should a celibate priest wish to marry, he is returned to the lay state, and then afterwards marries.) The Episcopal Church, in contrast, permits clergy to date and marry. The basis of the Orthodox practice is the principle that a man should have his own household in order before undertaking to be a guide to others. In addition, potentially a dating priest would be in the position of being spiritual advisor to a woman he is also dating, which would be a conflict of interest. Just as in businesses or in the military, dating is often not permitted between supervisors or superiors and their subordinates, so to, in the Orthodox Church this is not permitted.

[hottingers]

Riddle me this:
four people die, one atheist and three religious people
their lives were basically the same, good people, caring people
person #1 did it because if he didn't he would go to hell
person #2 did it because if he didn' the would't go to heaven
person # 3 did it because he was told to do it over and over.
person #4 did it because it was the right thing to do.
Which religions were persons 1,2,3?

[Chynna Castillo]

redkim i finally get your point, I'm only saddened that you didn't get to it earlier so we could have avoided the sharp exchange. He lied to the public, that's wrong. It's wrong to say to people do this then to not practice it. 2nd a promise is a promise. So I side with you on that one.

It's like promising something to a friend but your friend said I do not want it but you insisted and your friend agrees to your pledge and then when you broke it, your friend has the right to be angry because he already has expectation.

Which brings me to this question,food for thought,if the Vatican expects him to keep it and suppose God,take note supposed,doesn't really want the vow of celibacy,shouldn't God's understanding overwrite man's laws? What's your opinion cause I don't know the answer to that question too although he would still be guilty of breaking a promise not to god but to Man on that scenario.

[redkim]

Thank you, Chynna. I have to say, though, that in fairness to myself (ha!) I've pretty much made the point right in my first post.

I think what folks are getting hung up on here is the word "celibacy" and the whole issue around it. The issue isn't celibacy--it's integrity.

When a man breaks a vow, whether it be celibacy or a vow to his wife, and is remorseful, he still has his integrity: he's made a mistake and admitted it and is ready to move on and make amends. To answer your question, that's what I think God cares about: our ability to not only recognize our mistakes, but to want to do better.

But when a man breaks a vow he freely makes and is NOT remorseful, then his integrity is shattered. I don't think God cares all that much about celibacy one way or the other; I think what's more important is who we are and the promises we make to God, to each other and to ourselves that count.

Personally, I think there are very good, practical reasons for celibacy, particularly for the parish priest. His life, just by the nature of his job, has to be completely devoted to the people of his parish, much more so than even a doctor on call in the hospital.

to be continued

[Chynna Castillo]

So we can agree that he's a good lover for standing up for his lady love but bad at keeping promises to his organization. Right honey?

[redkim]

continued:

The parish priest MUST be there, 24 hours a day, to answer to his parishioners needs, whether it be something as mundane as a bus schedule, or a 2 AM death in the family. In my opinion, if these guys then had their own family to take care of, it would be an extra burden for them (not to mention their family) and probably many wouldn't choose it.

[M4dwoman]

I agree with you about the integrity issue. This man made a conscious decision to follow celibacy when he chose to become a priest. That he fell in love with someone he'd known for a long time is understandable - priests are human. He should have been honest when he started to have a visible affair and left the priesthood.
Becoming a priest in the Episcopal church means that he can continue to minister to others, only he can now be honest about his love. But it seems awfully sudden, and I think that the decision to leave not only the priesthood but the Catholic church seems odd and slightly self-centered. Could he not become a deacon or other type of minister and remain in the church?
I disagree that a person cannot be an effective minister if they have a family. It has worked very well for Protestants; ministers are on call 24 hours. In my experience, the good ones are there when a congregant needs them. The issue of celibacy was really one of preventing family connections from affecting ownership of church property and belongings. The justification came later.

[totaldisbelief]

on the bright side at least it wasn't a little boy.

[lil11]

Indeed.