Father Alberto Cutie is well named as many a Miami parishoner will testify, he is rather easy on the eyes, though his name is actually pronounced Koo’-Tee-Ay. An excellent priest,and friend to his parishoners,in a world where the Catholic church is suffering a lag in membership, and hits from an unsavory recent past, Father Cutie brings an enthusiastic parish community together. He had already become somewhat of a celebrity. Known as “FatherOprah” by the fans of his local television show and parishoners alike.
Sadly, he has no show or parish after the photos of his day at the beach appeared in print. Perhaps that is why after the damning photos, parishoners rallied! While the church put him on leave and took away his show, parishoners marched in the streets, and have called for the church to modernize their very debatable views on celibacy, which have fluctuated in centuries past, and allow Father Cutie and others like him to lead more normal lifes. What a shame to lose this priest, much less others – only because of the outdated rule of celibacy! They have punished sex offenders in their midst much less.
CNN’s Rick Sanchez interviews William Donohue of the Catholic League, not known for their forward thinking,but appearing on a news show every day recently. Surprisingly even Dohohue, who stands for the very conservative arm of the church
admits that this may be the time to talk about it. I have news, the people feel that it’s time to act on it!
He made one very unfortunate comment, saying that no one has said they would walk out if this isn’t changed. Perhaps not in his cloistered little group, but in Miami and other places many have, and many more are ready if their protests are not heard and acted upon. Perhaps Donohue and those who decide Father Cutie’s fate, do not yet realize the influence he has, and how this issue has built on a world-wide level, only needing an excellent poster boy.
In the ancient church priests were allowed to marry, perhaps it’s time to stop pretending this was one of the laws carried down from the mount by Moses!
The story is told much better on the video, and by the Father himself. I wonder if they would have made this much of an effort if his name had been “Warty” and he’d lived up to it? Just Kidding!