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Opinion: Fr. Alberto Cutie. The Media Exploits a Fallen Priest
Catholic Online ^ | 5/12/09 | Deacon Keith Fournier

Posted on 05/11/2009 3:36:29 PM PDT by tcg

You have seen him everywhere by now, on television, in the newspaper and all over the internet. That young, handsome, photogenic priest named Fr. Alberto Cutie. One sample morning article from MSN gets right to the heart of the real problem, poor reporting. The headline reads “Celebrity priest backs celibacy, but may marry” and is then followed by a “teaser line” right below it in bold type “Fla. clergyman known as ‘Father Oprah’ says he may leave Catholic Church.” The claim is not true.

Father Cutie has never said he was going to leave the Catholic Church. He is defending the Catholic Church in interviews. He is also defending the call to consecrated celibacy. In a CBS “Early Show” interview he made it very clear,“We want to do things right, but sometimes we fall short. And I fell short." This fallen priest has taken a leave of absence with the approval of his Bishop. He is considering leaving the priesthood, a process under Canon law which is sometimes the best approach in situations like this. Such a process is undertaken only under pastoral care which Fr. Cutie is receiving.

The real story behind this fall in the life of this celibate priest is the media feeding frenzy. The secular press has used it to attack the countercultural witness of consecrated celibacy in Catholic life.

(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS: catholic; celibacy; frcutie; priesthood
Celibacy has nothing to do with what occurred between the young priest from Miami and the woman with whom he broke his vows.
1 posted on 05/11/2009 3:36:30 PM PDT by tcg
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To: tcg

The media is just in a snit because he chose a woman.


2 posted on 05/11/2009 3:39:31 PM PDT by oldfart (Obama nation = abomination. Think about it!)
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To: tcg

How many times is this story going to be posted? /rant off


3 posted on 05/11/2009 4:01:35 PM PDT by markomalley (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: tcg
ditto's.

Yes, the media luvs this scandal because it fits with their rampant liberalism and demands to have a married priesthood.

4 posted on 05/11/2009 4:07:16 PM PDT by vox_freedom (If there were no God, there would be no Atheists. - G. K. Chesterton)
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To: vox_freedom

I believe that the Catholic Church should allow its priests to marry. The rule forbidding them to marry is not Biblical. Priestly celibacy is a “doctrine of devils,” according to the Apostle Paul (I Tim. 4:3).


5 posted on 05/11/2009 10:25:12 PM PDT by kevinw
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To: tcg
Celibacy has nothing to do with what occurred between the young priest from Miami and the woman with whom he broke his vows.

This is an interesting observation because if it were not for the discipline of celibacy he could date and marry this woman and continue his ministry. Hard to understand how celibacy has nothing to do with this.

To the best of my understanding, this priest was a diocesan and thus took no vows. Only Religious priests usually take vows. He made a promise of celibacy and accepted that discipline, but there were no vows.

The situation is best discussed when accurate terms are used.

6 posted on 05/12/2009 6:26:32 AM PDT by VidMihi ("In fide, unitas; in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas.")
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To: oldfart
The media is just in a snit because he chose a woman.

Good comment, because it proves there are at least a few heterosexual priests under 65. Let's be careful that when we blame the media we are not blaming the messenger and ignoring the message.

7 posted on 05/12/2009 6:32:28 AM PDT by VidMihi ("In fide, unitas; in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas.")
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To: kevinw
I am a lifelong Catholic and disagree. While it is a Church position, and not dogma based, there are good reasons for priests to dedicate themselves to their parish and ministry rather than the obligations of being married.

It is daunting to consider that priests should have social distractions such as "dating" and responsibilities of raising children in addition their church duties and functions. It is a tremendous sacrifice for priests, but they know what they are getting into with their pledge of fidelity to God and the Church, and celibacy, and this policy has withstood the test of time.

If people think that Episcopalian's have it right, they are free to go to a church that has a married ministry, along with homosexual "reverends," and bishops... There are many within that Protestant church that are now fighting those elements, but it is, as many would agree, a slippery slope once you step off the ledge....

8 posted on 05/12/2009 9:49:44 AM PDT by vox_freedom (If there were no God, there would be no Atheists. - G. K. Chesterton)
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To: kevinw

You missed this from the Gospel according to St. Matthew:

For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother’s womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it.


9 posted on 05/12/2009 9:54:24 AM PDT by B Knotts (Calvin Coolidge Republican)
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To: tcg
The real story behind this fall in the life of this celibate priest is the media feeding frenzy.

Which Cutie himself is a willing participant in.

10 posted on 05/12/2009 11:24:34 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: kevinw
You should be careful about publicly flaunting your ignorance of Scripture. St. Paul's own celibacy contradicts your incorrect linguistic literalist claim. Those seeking the Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Latin Rite, which is not a right, do so out of free will and after long and deliberate contemplative prayer and reflection. They exercise the same choice the Apostles did when they gave up everything to follow Christ. No man has a gun held to his head when they accept the call to serve the Kingdom of God.

"But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided." 1 Corinthians 7:32-33

If you need further edification, let me know.

11 posted on 05/12/2009 11:35:05 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: VidMihi
This is an interesting observation because if it were not for the discipline of celibacy he could date and marry this woman and continue his ministry.

Incorrect, Once ordained a Priest, either Religious or Diocesan, one is not free to date and marry and remain in the clerical state.

A promise of chastity to a Bishop for a Diocesan Priest is equivalent to a vow of celibacy for a Religious Order Priest, a fact confirmed by Canon Law.

The situation is best discussed when accurate terms are used.

The situation is best discussed when people actually know what they are talking about.

12 posted on 05/12/2009 11:41:53 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: A.A. Cunningham
"Incorrect, Once ordained a Priest, either Religious or Diocesan, one is not free to date and marry and remain in the clerical state."

He has also committed a sacrilege has he not?

Concerning leaving the Priesthood, he may, but a marriage would never be be sanctioned buy the Church because it is a Conon Law or is simply morally impossible??

13 posted on 05/13/2009 12:38:45 PM PDT by GonzoII ("That they may be one...Father")
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