`Father Oprah' and Wife Welcome Their First Daughter

By Kevin Eckstrom
Religion News Service

The Miami priest once known as "Father Oprah," who joined the Episcopal Church after his breaking his Catholic vow of celibacy, announced the birth of his first child on Thursday (Dec. 2).

"With thanksgiving to God, the giver of all life, my wife and I announce the birth of our beautiful baby daughter Camila Victoria Cutie," the Rev. Alberto Cutie said in a posting on his website,
www.padrealberto.com.

"There is great joy in being a Father, who is also a `father.' We are truly blessed!"

After photographers caught him canoodling on a beach with his future wife, Ruhama Buni Canellis, Cutie left the Catholic Church in May 2009, saying he could no longer live out his vow of celibacy. The couple married weeks later.

Cutie, 41, was ordained an Episcopal priest last May and was appointed priest-in-charge at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Biscayne Park. His memoir, "Dilemma: A Priest's Struggle with Faith and Love," hits stores on Jan. 4.

Comments

[CB5]

11:53 PM on 02/02/2011

Congratulations to both of them. I wish them only the best in life.

[moondancer13]

12:35 AM on 01/25/2011

Catholics should lighten up already and allow their priests to marry or partner like other branches of Christianity do. I'm more put off (and disgusted) by reports of Catholic priests molesting children, and reports of homosexuality (the latter because a vow of celibacy should be a vow of celibacy, regardless of sexual preference). He could have quit completely, but his desire to serve GOD is obviously still there. Good for him & all the best to his new family.

[charlesdickens]

12:30 AM on 01/20/2011

I'm starting to find this guy a bit annoying. I'm glad that he found the girl, had the baby, and is living happily ever after, but please, stay away from the talk shows in priestly collar hawking the book.

[HannaSchmitz]

11:26 PM on 01/12/2011

Reminds me of Father Ralph de Bricassart if he had left the church and married Maggie.

[wulidncr]

10:29 AM on 12/06/2010

So, he found the doctrine of celebacy to be flawed. Cool. Now, how about the doctrine of original sin that makes the whole absurdity seem necessary? That be a great next step. Talking snakes, really!

[Indigo1941]

08:42 AM on 12/06/2010

Slow news day?

[ZenSufi]

05:55 PM on 12/05/2010

I predict that this baby will be a cutie.

[SilentSolidarity]

05:17 PM on 12/05/2010

Congrats on both, the daughter and switching to a church that fits to your faith, not vice versa.

[mrsL]

12:58 PM on 01/15/2011

One wonders though... if he can shake off his priestly vows when they no longer suited him, does that bode well for his wife?

[justjoe48]

04:51 PM on 12/05/2010

a scandal with a happy ending!!!!

[John Ramsey001]

03:44 PM on 12/05/2010

Who do people complaint too when a moderator is using his/her position to push an agenda?

[Need To Know Why]

04:09 PM on 12/05/2010

Scroll to the bottom of the page...click on Contact Us.

[marind]

01:39 PM on 12/05/2010

Re priestly celibacy:

Does it occur to anyone else that young, healthy males taking a vow to never have sex again in their lives probably attracts some pretty strange dudes? Why would guys give up sex at an age when they have perpetual boners?

Vows of celibacy from the young are sick for all but a fraction of people who have extraordinarily low sex drives. Or are so repressed that they take out their stiffled desires in destructive behavior against themselves or others.

Bravo for "Father Oprah" in renouncing a vow that is, by definition, Anti-Life.

[demfemme]

11:01 PM on 12/04/2010

Yes, and now as an Episcopalian clergyman Padre Oprah could re convert to Catholicism and be a priest again.

[Laxsmi de Potrero]

07:52 PM on 12/04/2010

just when the font of irony seems dry, catholic priests come to the rescue. one may wonder how serious any vow is when it can be conveniently converted into a blessed event when it is broken.

one must either consider this man justified in abandoning his church because it was wrong or see him as a judas. in either event, i suspect he is a man who is probably not on a mission from god.

[SensibleJoe]

09:36 PM on 12/04/2010

Padre Alberto Cutie isn't a Roman Catholic priest anymore. He's an Episcopalian presbyter now. While a Roman Catholic priest, he fell in love with a woman and decided he could no longer keep his vow of celibacy. On May 28, 2009, he joined the Episcopal Church, which received him as a presbyter due to his prior ordination, and he married the woman he was in love with on June 29, 2009. Now, 17 months later, the married couple had a child together. Good for them -- and good for the Episcopal, Orthodox and other churches that do not see marriage and family life as an impediment to serving God as clergy in his church -- unlike the Roman Catholic church, which imposes at least the facade of celibacy on its clergy. Even some of Jesus Christ's apostles were married, yet had no problem following and serving him.

[John Ramsey001]

11:45 PM on 12/04/2010

First, the CC does not impose celibacy on its Priest. They took the vow willingly. No one put a gun to their head. Second, celibacy is a discipline and not dogma. This discipline is modeled after the teachings of Saint Paul. Lastly, The Catholic Church consist of many rites of which the Roman or Latin is the largest and yes celibacy is part of that rites discipline. There are other rites within the Catholic Church that have married priests just like the Orthodox Church.

If you are going to criticize the CC, it is a good idea to know what you are talking about. If you are going to criticize at least do it with an informed mind.

[Laxsmi de Potrero]

01:28 PM on 12/05/2010

your point being? i know cutie abandoned his vows and his church

[Weirdwriter]

12:55 AM on 12/05/2010

Someone who regards "god" as a delusion is in no position to judge what someone else's religious mission might be.

[Laxsmi de Potrero]

01:34 PM on 12/05/2010

oh really? i guess taking vows and breaking them is ok for the religious. wow, i am truly impressed in the fluidity of honesty and truth.

unfortunately for this non-believer, a person's word is his or her bond. but maybe that is why i do not need some superbeing to tell me that i can break the most solemn promises because it is convenient to do so.

i begrudge no drug addict his or her drug of choice, so believe away my friend.