Free Republic

I am genuinely disappointed by the announcement made earlier this afternoon by Father Alberto Cutié that he is joining the Episcopal Church. According to our canon law, with this very act Father Cutié is separating himself from the communion of the Roman Catholic Church (c. 1364, §1) by professing erroneous faith and morals, and refusing submission to the Holy Father (canon 751). He also is irregular for the exercise of sacred orders as a priest (canons 1041 and 1044, §1) and no longer has the faculties of the Archdiocese of Miami to celebrate the sacraments; nor may he preach or...

'I would like to have a family and at the same time serve God." By all accounts, the man who recently spoke those words is more than capable of doing both. The Rev. Alberto Cutié, a 40-year-old Roman Catholic priest, built a devoted international following through his service as pastor of the St. Francis de Sales parish in Miami Beach, his immensely popular Spanish-language radio and television ministry, and his widely distributed advice column. "Father Oprah," he was nicknamed, both for his gifts as a broadcaster and his empathy for the struggles so many face when it comes to love,...

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 Rev. Alberto Cutié, in his first English-language television interview since photos surfaced showing him frolicking with a woman on the beach, apologized profusely to the church and his fellow Catholics. Though the photos have reignited the debate over priests and celibacy, he said he still believed in the vow. ''I don't want to be the anti-celibacy priest,'' he said. ``It's a debate in our society.'' Cutié appeared on CBS' The Early Show, telling anchor Maggie Rodriguez he had a romantic relationship for about two years, though he had known the woman much longer. Unlike his interview with Spanish-language network...