Posted on 05/30/2009 5:09:42 AM PDT by Teófilo
Who hasn't heard the news? A Spanish gossip magazine published compromising photos of Fr. Alberto Cutié, then a Catholic priest, romancing a young lady on the beach. Fr. Cutié owned up to his relationship and chose the path of least resistance: apostasy – “apostasy” in that restricted canonical sense of “desertion of a post, the giving up of a state of life; he who voluntarily embraces a definite state of life cannot leave it, therefore, without becoming an apostate,” according to the trusty old Catholic Encyclopedia .
Fr. Cutié was a media star in Miami and appreciated by a large Hispanic Catholic following, for his spiritual as well as for his telegenic presence. He was also a popular author, and a news analyst. For his actions his superior, the Archbishop of Miami, suspended Fr. Cutié from all his offices in the Archdiocese. Fr. Cutié’s response was to join the Episcopal Church (EC).
I haven’t talked about Fr. Cutié’s situation before because I considered it a non-news event, predictably hyped by a news media that’s normally hostile to Catholicism and magnified by “Father Oprah’s” own celebrity status. “Catholic priest caught with woman.” “Popular priest violates chastity vow.” “Priest leaves the Catholic Church for church X due to disagreement on priestly celibacy.” So on and so on. It has happened many times before and will happen again as long as there are sinners in the Church. There is nothing new under the sun.
What reasons made me change my mind? First, the media event that the Episcopal Diocese of Miami mounted to ostensibly “welcome” Fr. Cutié and his fiancé to their denomination with all the trappings of a “big deal.” This media event has damaged ecumenical relations between the Catholic Church and the EC in Miami and reveals a purposeful agenda by the latter, in my opinion. The second reason is that I actually got to see someone of some renown deserting the Catholic Church for the Episcopal Church. For the last decades or so the movement has been in reverse, as a substantial number of former Episcopal ministers have been received and either ordained or conditionally ordained in the Catholic Church under the conditions set by the 1980 Pastoral Provision. Approximately 100 formerly Episcopal ministers have been admitted to the Catholic priesthood, most of whom are married and who were not required to make a vow of celibacy to continue their ministries.
Why are all these connected? Because the EC, along with other “mainline” Protestant bodies, has been in decline: it has lost over 1 million members since 1966. That statistic is sobering, despite the fact that the EC is one of the most liberal, “welcoming,” and “tolerant” churches in the country. Why are Episcopalians leaving their church in droves? I am going to leave that question hanging there.
I believe that the EC’s Diocese of Miami saw an opportunity to reverse the declining trend in their jurisdiction and decided to exploit Fr. Cutié’s apostasy and the city’s hot Hispanic demographics at the expense of the Catholic Church. It was a bold, transparent move to showcase itself as a welcoming refuge for disaffected Catholics who might follow Fr. Cutié’s into the EC. “Sheep-poaching,” I think they call it. Or maybe it is “payback time” for the steady trickle of Episcopalians who have become Catholics during the last 43 years, a time marked by a steady erosion of the Episcopal Church’s traditional biblical and catholic identity. I said it is all of the above.
Fr. Cutié is an apostate because he failed to live up to a promise he undertook voluntarily. He solved the moral dissonance by becoming a schismatic and incurring an excommunication. He incited scandal by broadcasting his choice widely through all available media. The EC Miami leadership exploited the event for their purposes.
That’s where the “real news” lies. But no one is going to cover it like it is. On the contrary, the criticism against the Catholic Church’s ancient discipline of priestly celibacy, based as it is upon Scripture and Tradition, will acquire a special, urgent tone. Well, at least until the next scandal blows up.
I do venture to make a prediction: in the near future, “Father Oprah” will appear with the real Oprah on her show, along with his fiancé. Oprah will interview them, they’ll both cry, laugh, and so many in our nation, who depend on her to form their opinions, will point their fingers against the Catholic Church. You see, because it is the Catholic Church’s fault that such a nice, handsome, and spiritual man of God was unable to find a church home that would simultaneously honor his priesthood and show leniency for the betrayal of a vow he made long ago before the Lord.
God bless the Reverend Alberto Cutié and his fiancé in their new lives as Episcopalians. Let us pray for them, as well as for the Catholic Church in Miami, whose freshly open wound is Rev. Cutié’s one lasting legacy. Let there be healing, Lord, as well as conversion, repentance, reparation, and the will to sin no more.
PING!
The Episcopal Church welcomed pederast Jim McGreevy to their Church with much fanfare.
The so called gay American Governor who trolled the truck stops for sex partners became an honored member of this Church.
It's war out there, everybody scrambling for those divorced, or otherwise alienated Catholics who cannot do it Rome's way. Divorced? Re-Married? Step right this way!
The Episcopalians attract the better-educated prospects with their liturgy and Anglican traditions. Your more conservative Episcoplians appreciate the doctrinally indoctrinated RCs, as it is easy for them to slip into the services and church life, and can be counted on as allies in the struggle against the homos.
The more Anglically (smells and bells) oriented are counting on these people to save their church ... and churches.
Even the Orthodox are recruiting in this prospect pool.
Between the Mormons sweeping up Latin Americans, the Evangelicals bringing in the Latinos, and the Episcopalians signing up former Roman Catholics, The Holy Father had better come up with a plan, or Peter's Pence is going to be looking slimmer all the time.
Mamma mia!
FYI
He should have repented and lived up to his vows.
Oprah is leading many in the wrong direction.
Right on. Kenny. But it won't take long for these posts to respond - Obedience, Submission, prayer, vows. One forgets that after the Resurrection the Apostles asked Jesus if He was going to conquer the world now - His response was- No. that is going to be your job. Sure we must have the Faith as if all depended upon God, but too often we are unable to assume any responsibility for our part of the bargain. And many of the responses will offer the simplistic and childlike solutions that help perpetuate the situation as it gets worse every day. Just obey and all will go away.
You are correct. I want to keep it that way. (sigh)
-Theo
Actually, Pope Benedict said that the Catholic Church may have to become smaller to become stronger.
Those that are leaving do not belong in the Catholic church if they do not believe what Jesus said when he told Peter, “You are the rock upon which I will build My Church.”
....I believe that the EC’s Diocese of Miami saw an opportunity to reverse the declining trend in their jurisdiction and decided to exploit Fr. Cutié’s apostasy and the city’s hot Hispanic demographics at the expense of the Catholic Church. It was a bold, transparent move to showcase itself as a welcoming refuge for disaffected Catholics who might follow Fr. Cutié’s into the EC. “Sheep-poaching,” I think they call it. Or maybe it is “payback time” for the steady trickle of Episcopalians who have become Catholics during the last 43 years, a time marked by a steady erosion of the Episcopal Church’s traditional biblical and catholic identity. I said it is all of the above.
It's only “sheep-poaching” when the flow of priests moves away from the Catholic Church, in other words.
There are not many conservatives left in that church.
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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15
He may go on Oprah someday, but he’ll never point a finger at the CC. He’s already given an ind-depth interview where he spoke at length of his love for the church.
Episcoplians appreciate the doctrinally indoctrinated RCs, as it is easy for them to slip into the services and church life, and can be counted on as allies in the struggle against the homos.
I disagree, the problems of liberalism in most TEC parishes that I have attended have been exascerbated by liberal Roman Catholics who have come there for familiar liturgy, but as they see it less rules. I had one recently tell me that she loved being Episcopalian because there aren’t any rules, no one tells you what you have to believe. She then said she loves the Via Media! I looked straight at her and replied, Well there used to be rules and btw you have a very skewed understanding of the Via Media. It is the middle way between Rome and Gebneva, not belief and disbelief.
Also if IIRC the current Presiding Bishopess was baptized Roman but unfortunately we somehow got her. I’m NOT blaming it all on disaffected Roman Catholics but they have not helped.
< Flame on!
I believe one of the points of the article was that Episcopal Church has made so much fan fare of the conversion. The Catholic Church has been ready to accept converts but (unlike some of us Catholic Freepers) hesitant to herald them.
London is midway between Geneva and Rome? Those durned Gypsy cab-drivers! (If I said I meant no offense to the Roma, that would only confuse things worse...)
Google Anglican Via Media
I don’t think there has been much hesitancy to celebrate. Lady Thatcher met with Pope Benedict last week and there was rampant speculation that she might convert from Anglicanism.
Funny thing is she is Methodist not Anglican.
And what about Tony Blair?
But that aside, TEC doesn’t need Father Cutie; (sigh) I am NOT rejoicing!
Not exclusively. People too.
-Theo
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