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January 24th, 2011
11:02 PM ET
Exposed priest: We shouldn't have to choose between marriage, faithBy the CNN Wire Staff Almost two years after racy photos exposed his relationship with a woman and prompted the end of his tenure as a Roman Catholic priest and media star, Albert Cutie on Monday said celibacy is not necessary or particularly healthy for those aiming to heed God's call. Speaking with HLN's Richelle Carey to promote his best-selling book, "Dilemma," Cutie (pronounced koo-tee-AY) criticized Catholic doctrine that prohibited priests from marrying. The South Florida resident married the woman shown in those photos - one of his former parishioners, Ruhama B. Canellis. After leaving the Roman Catholic Church, he started on the path to become an Episcopalian priest in spring 2009. "Unfortunately, (Catholic) priests are forced to choose between something that is very good - like your love for God and the church - and something that is also very good - which is the love of your partner, your wife," he said. Cutie added that the Catholic Church's emphasis on celibacy, which prohibits "a healthy sexual life that you would have with a married partner," did little to further priests' overall mission of serving God. "In the church, we talk a lot about violations that have to do with sex, but we forget that there are other things that can also be violations of giving your single-hearted service to God," he said. "And that happens in the church every day." Before the scandal, Cutie was sometimes called "Father Oprah" because of the advice he had given in Spanish-language media, where helmed several talk shows and served as president as Pax Catholic Communications. But his image came crashing down when photographs published in TV Notas magazine showed him embracing a woman in a bathing suit. Within weeks, the Cuban-American admitted to having a two-year relationship. On Monday, he said his only regret was that the media detailed his relationship with Canellis before he could do so himself. "I never expected that the paparazzi would have announced my dilemma before I could," Cutie said. After the photographs surfaced, he was removed from his duties at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church in Miami Beach and on the Radio Paz and Radio Peace Networks. When Cutie signaled he planned to become an Episcopal priest, the archbishop of the Catholic Church's Miami archdiocese said he was "deeply disappointed." "Father Cutie's actions have caused grave scandal within the Catholic Church, harmed the Archdiocese of Miami - especially our priests - and led to division within the ecumenical community and the community at large," John C. Favalora said in a statement. Cutie said Monday that, growing up, he dreamed that he "would have 10 children and a wife." "But then you you receive this call from God. And one of the conditions, unfortunately, as a Roman Catholic (priest) is that you accept celibacy as a discipline," he said. Discipline is central to much of the Catholic Church's doctrines, he claims, given restrictions on everything from watching pornography to drinking or smoking too much. In comparison, he said, a monogamous, loving relationship should not be seen as a vice. "The excess of anything that is not healthy that you are using to compensate the healthy sexual life that you would have with a married partner - those things are violations of celibacy, too," he said. He said that his relationship with Canellis or decision to leave the Catholic priesthood, something he claimed many others do every day, wasn't planned or easy. "But I think love happens, and sometimes you have to make a choice," said Cutie, who is serving at The Church of the Resurrection in Biscayne Park, Florida. Asked if he were to have a son whether he would try to persuade him not to become a Catholic priest, Cutie said it would be "sad" that his son would have to choose between his faith and marriage. The better option, he said, would be to join him and be a priest in the Episcopal Church, which shares many of the same beliefs and practices as Catholicism. "I don't think those kids really have a fair shot at ministry, because they are being told this beautiful thing (marriage) you saw in your home, you're not able to do it here because celibacy is a requirement," he said. "So it would be difficult for me to say to my child, this is right for you."
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Celibacy in the preisthood is a man-made rule. No where in the Bible did God command that those entering the ministry had to be celibate. At one time the Southern Baptist Convention stated that drinking alcohol was a sin. I understand in recent years that "rule" has been lifted and they now follow the scriptures that says, do not be drunk and make a fool of yourself. The celibcay requirement is a man-made requirement of certain religions.
Re posting mycomment
(Gerald)
I am Methodist, and God loves, and saves me just as he does any Catholic. Sir, we read the word of God, and live the word of God.
Mayby I mis understand what you are saying here. I hope its just to clarify your church's postion, and not to condemn the rest of us, because we don't belong to Catholic Church.
What we believe does indeed trace to Jesus Christ.
How do you know for sure that every word written by your ec-u-menial councils and pope's are correct in the eyes of God? I can assure you that the one pope that said (Eugene) I believe, "all outside the Catholic Church will go to hell". I do hope you don't believe the Lord Jesus Christ condoned that statement! It goes against what he said!
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Baptism to follow of course. Every one believed first, and then was baptised. The Lord did not say "mayby" you shall see Heaven, if this is done, by his grace. He said it would be done.
Metholist,
What Pope Eugene IV is saying is that all people [whether they are Jews or any other people] who have heard the Word of God, the Truth, and refuses to believe in it will not be saved. At that time, there were no other Christians except those abiding in the Catholic Church, the Church founded by Jesus Christ himself of which is the pillar and foundation of Truth. He is talking to people who have a choice to make…
The Word says that those who abide in ME [Jesus Christ] and I in them will be saved…the Church is the Body of Christ…those who do abide in this body will not be saved… “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:5–6). …it is the Word of God which is what Pope Eugene IV is reminding the people [of that time] about. Truth never changes.
I am Methodist, and God loves, and saves me just as he does any Catholic. Sir, we read the word of God, and live the word of God.
Mayby I mis understand what you are saying here. I hope its just to clarify your church's postion, and not to condemn the rest of us, because we don't belong to Catholic Church.
What we believe does indeed trace to Jesus Christ.
How do you know for sure that every word written by your ec-u-menial councils and pope's are correct in the eyes of God? I can assure you that the one pope that said (Eugene) I believe, "all outside the Catholic Church will go to hell". I do hope you don't believe the Lord Jesus Christ condoned that statement! It goes against what he said!
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Baptism to follow of course. Every one believed first, and then was baptised. The Lord did not say "mayby" you shall see Heaven, if this is done, by his grace. He said it would be done.
If believers could just give up their silly beliefs in manmade tribal books of magic, myths and non-existent supernatural beliefs, discussions such as these would not be happening. Instead, people would be dealing with their problems by getting assistance from trained professional, untainted by myths and incredibly complicated rules and rationalizations, largely intended to support the mythology and to control the sheep (used in the most negative sense, not as ultra-believers would like to spin it).
Nicee....What is God's word? The Bible? Granted the Bible is God's word but only if it is understood correctly. If one reads the bible but does not understand the words and makes them mean something else, are they God's word? There are 30,000 (see bartletts book on Christianity) protestant denominations out there all having to have God's word. So certainly protestantism teachings and God's word are not one in the same you would have to agree. Now Paul tells us "hold fast to the TRADITIONS you have received, whether BY WORD OF MOUTH or in writing from us.". Much of Protestantism denies the "BY WORD OF MOUTH" part of this statement. This part illuminates scripture and is passed on in the fashion of 2 Tim 2. What you have heard from me teach to other who will teach it to others......is the formula. Protestants interestingly enough have traditions. Traditional beliefs. But those in conflict with Catholicism do not trace through the Church back to Christ. They trace back to the 1500's at the earliest.
Apart from the taxi driver who wanted to become a married Catholic priest whom I mentioned above (http://passionofchrist-lechemindecroix.blogspot.com/2009/10/taxi-driver-wanted-to-become-married.html) my brother who earns very little and is struggling to make ends meet, also says that he would gladly become a Catholic priest if he were allowed to marry. If these people were allowed to become priests then why go to church? I might as well stay at home and preach to myself.
Lavinia Tai,
"I might as well stay at home and preach to myself."
That's a start! Then you might learn that you can make up lofty rhetoric and superst!tious rules every bit as well as they can.
Finally – a priest caught with a woman rather than a child! Thank you Lord! No where in scripture does God mandate that a pastor/priest not marry. The catholic church hides behind this smoke screen so that no one can question why THEY have no need for women. Every thinking person in the world knows the answer to that one. Move on Mr. Priest. You have not violated God's word, only catholic doctrine. Every time I see a so-called celibate priests and nuns I wonder how many generations of children they have been allowed to defile. Go with God and leave the filth behind.
If Catholic priests were allowed to get married then all the jobless men on the streets would be fighting for this marvellous job!
It's not easy to find a secure and respectful job during this period of recession. This explains why so many family men who want to provide well for their wife and children are trying to make priesthood an occupation.
They ex-ag-ge-rate with the number of Muslims since it is called a Muslim country but are those really Muslims by faith or just Muslims by birth? Those Muslims by birth are disblievers,Ath-ei-sts until they become Muslims by know-ldge and faith only....
Those disblievers are rebels against the faith and re-be-l against all com-man-d-ments t-error-izing all and co-n-cealing under the name of faith taking advantage of those in sub-b-mission to God and in peace with them selves and other faiths and beliefs....
Beside that it is not like that named self as ""pre-ci-se"" proving him self ig-nor-ant but it is that Muslims merry more than wife and not believe in birth control as to the number of children they get, they consider ab-or-tion is a sin...and believe that each child is born, comes to life along with his sub-sis-ten-ce and that God provide that for him and that parents should not fear poverty or the in-abil-ity to support...!
But in the other hand Non Muslims might be de-crea-sing because of not allowing the di-vor-ce and remarry such as Catholics.
Others do not allow marriage for more than one at the time.
Others by self de-cis-ion and as for finance co-nt-rol have applied birth co-nt-rol.
Others by au-th-or-it-ies over their heads en-for-c-ing on them birth co-nt-rol.
So from above we see that there are to-u-gh reg-ula-tions and c-irc-um-stan-ces are being applied on the leg-it-imate di-vor-ce, marriages and children births !?
Find no control what's so ever over ad-ult-ery as being (as com-pa-nions or as pro-st-it-u-tion) Relations and be-hav-iors?! Then comes results of such relations increasing ab-or-ti-ons and the births of parentless children as result of such il-leg-it-im-ate relations,or those who came by criminal relation such as r-a-pe !?
Now such children become as bu-rd-en for tax payers and com-m-un-it-ies when raised, un-protected and un-loved by real parents and real family relatives?! How would such as those un-lucky ones look up to life,to h-um-an-ity and faith ?! Can those give or offer what they have la-ck-ed, can they give,offer and spread Love that they had not known it or exp-erie-nc-ed in reality ?!
Further more is that allowing or leg-it-im-at-iz-ing marriages of Male to Male and Female to Female would with time have you v-a-n-is-h-ed from earth as race renewing it's own gen-era-ti-ons is de-cli-n-ing,de-cr-ea-sing gen-era-tion after another!? That's why God told that only good deeded in su-bm-is-sion,that those who will in-her-it earth !?
This is the Muneef I love!
He's still the same Muneef that's OK with marrying off 10 year old girls. Nothing like religion approved child abuse to attract the gullible to your cult.
A Muslim living in an African-Arab country which had laws against polygamy secretly married another wife through a legitimate conventional contract, abiding by all its conditions except that it was not authenticated. This is because the country's established law refused to authenticate or admit it and considered such a marriage a crime for which he would have to be punished. The man used to frequent the house of his (second) wife, so the police watched him and came to assume that she was his wife and that he had committed an offence against the law. One night they waited for him, arrested him at his wife’s place and took him to court accusing him of marrying a second wife.
“The man was clever and asked those interrogating him, ‘But who told you she is my wife? She is not a wife. She is a mistress whom I took as a companion and I call on from time to time.’ The interrogators were taken aback and told the man very politely, ‘We are awfully sorry for the misunderstanding. We thought she was a wife and did not know she was a companion.’ Thereupon, they released him because, to them, to have the illicit company of a woman as a mistress to commit adultery, which is considered within the framework of personal freedom, is protected by the law.”
From Yusuf Qaradawi's The Status of Women In Islam
CatholicMom,
Thank you for your comments. I never thought of that. What I mean by "Family Man" is a man who dotes foolishly on his wife and is always busy making money at the expense of others so that his wife and chikdren could live a comfortable life.
Lavinia Tai,
Thank you for posting about Father OC Lim. It is holy Priests like him that will help people understand what the Catholic Church is all about….
I knew what you meant about ‘family man’ and only looked at it as an opportunity to show Jesus Christ as a ‘type’ of family man. I hope you continue to post.
As a Catholic, I do not attend Mass for the priest. I attend Mass for the consecration of the Blessed Sacrament. The priest is merely the vessel in which, through consecrated hands, transforms the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. This is our faith. This is the foundation of our Church. There are wonderful priests out there who have given their lives for the Church. Let's not forget them. If Cutie chooses to join another church, that is his business. He should not be making excuses for it. Neither should he be criticizing the Catholic Church for his decisions. His hands are consecrated; he is always a priest - he can never deny this fact. Priests and nuns will come and go. The teaching of the Church will always stand. The Church can be most difficult at times. It's not an easy road to be a Catholic - but then, no one ever said it would be. I think it's very important that we respect others and their religion. Most of us are born into our beliefs; others seek to find other answers. That's what makes this country great. We have choices and we were founded on the freedom to practice them.
Madeleine,
You said, ‘The Church can be most difficult at times.’
Jesus said, ‘28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." Matthew 11 28-30
Man’s ways conflict with the Church [such as in ‘abortion’] but Jesus invites us to take up His yoke of obedience to His word and through Him we will find rest. Some want to rush to the ‘arms of society’ or ‘the world’ and take that path…when wisdom should tell them that they will only find rest in the ‘arms of the Church’. Remember that Jesus Christ promised the Paraclete to His Apostles to safeguard His Church and bring Her into the fullness of Truth as we can bear it.
Endure to the end in Faith, Hope, and Love…persevere until the end. Pick up your cross and follow Him. He has supplied the Sacraments for the mission through His Church. This is where you find peace from the burdens of this world which are not caused by the Church.
The Douay-Rheims Bible: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.
When did ‘may [or might]’ change to ‘shall [will]’? This is what has happened to the Bible over the years of translating the translations
CatholicMom The bible you quote, it is a Catholic bible.
I want to requote the scripture that you say it comes from:
The Douay-Rheims Bible: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/may
Both may and might are used for expressing the idea that perhaps something is true or that perhaps something will happen, but might is more common in conversation, and may is more common in writing.
Might is often used for suggesting that a possibility is rather unlikely or not at all definite: You might have an accident.
May and might are both used in polite requests, remarks, and offers: May I see that? ♦ Might I make a suggestion?
OK so, we have:
Both may and might are used for expressing the idea that perhaps something is true or that perhaps something will happen,
"perhaps"
[per-haps] Show IPA
–adverb
maybe; possibly: Perhaps the package will arrive today.
Breaking these down, then the scrpiture would say that there's a "possibilty" one will have everlasting life...am I correct?
Problem I see in that satement, is that it is conflict with what The word of God says:
John 3; 16 for god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever beleiveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
1 john 5:13 these things have I written unto you that believe on the son of God that ye may KNOW that you have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the son of god.
There are more scriptures, but I wll use these two, they leave no room for the word "perhaps"...as in may happen, could happen, but WILL happen.
Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all man, so ALL men would have a chance to be saved. He did not say, "You MAY be saved". He says WILL be saved.
Darnall,
You said, ‘Breaking these down, then the scrpiture would say that there's a "possibilty" one will have everlasting life...am I correct?’…and…’Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all man, so ALL men would have a chance to be saved.’
You answered your own question.
Yes, because of the wonderful gift Jesus Christ gave us by His death and resurrection, we all have ‘a chance’ to be saved and live with Him forever.
Before 'the Cross that He took upon Himself for us' the gates to Heaven were closed to all because of Adam and Eve's fall.
The critical Greek text has no indication of a "may" or "might". It suggests that those who believe would not to "perish" (apoletai), the Greek word being the the same one used for kill, die, perish, etc. This is contrasted with the result of belief, which is life eternal or everlasting. I would suggest using multiple translations of the Bible to try and get to the intended meaning. Good Catholic versions include the New American Bible(NAB, dynamic translation-tries to get at the meaning) and the Revised Standard Version (RSV, more literal translation-seeks word for word translation as much as possible). Protestant versions that do a good job I'm less familiar with, but the New International Version (NIV, more literal) is pretty good. Also, remember that when you read Scripture you are reading a part of a narrative that took place over a couple of millennia and must be understood as part of the whole story. You can't just look at one verse or passage or even book and say that it's "God's Word". You have to look at how its meaning fits in with everything that is taught in the whole of Scripture. This verse, rightly, describes how God loves all people and desires for them to have eternal life with Him, but just because He wants it doesn't mean He forces it on us.
And as an aside may I suggest that gerald dial it back a bit. I get that you are trying to defend the Church, but you're really just throwing fuel on the fire.
I couldn't help thinking of Father OC Lim tonight. A lawyer who gave up his five figure salary to become priest. A millionaire's son who gave up all of life's luxuries to live the life of Christ. (Just google Father OC Lim and you will find my article about him). Really Cutie has a lot to learn from Father OC Lim.
Cutie's case really reminds me of the taxi driver who wanted to become a married Catholic priest. I was really furious with him that day when he told me such nonsense about priesthood. For those of you who are interested to know what this taxi driver said you can find my article at http://passionofchrist-lechemindecroix.blogspot.com/2009/10/taxi-driver-wanted-to-become-married.html
Church doctrine doesn't forbid married men from becoming priests, ecclesiatical law does.
It is time for married priests and women priests. There are over 100 Roman Catholic Women Priests who are serving Catholics now. We are followng the example of Jesus who called married men and women as disciples and equals.
It is time for the Roman Catholic Church to follow Jesus example and affirm women priests and married priests.
http://www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org
Bridget Mary's Blog
There are no women priests Bridget. Only women who think they are priests but really are following demonic leadings away from the Church. If there are women priests then there is no Catholicism. Sorry.
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP,
To take a name which implies you are connected to the Catholic Church is a most deceptive move, [RCWP]. I feel sorry for all who come in contact with you; they believe they have ‘come home to the Catholic Church’ because they listen to your lies and they haven’t the means to discover this deception by themselves… they are the weak, the poor, the unsuspecting in all walks of life. You are not Catholic. You are just another person who brings scandal to Jesus Christ’s Church the best way you know how.
If I were you, I would repent and stop this scandal at once and come home to the Catholic Church…for Jesus said, there will be scandal but woe to the one who brings it.
CatholicMom,
I appreciate your prescence and voice of reason out here. God bless you sister.
Gerald
Gerald,
There is so much work to do but every soul is worth it!
You can’t imagine how grateful I am to find you on these blogs!
Have you ever gone by GeraldH or some such name?
God bless you, too!
Yes I have gone by other names.
Jesus had both male and female disciples, so there should be married priests and female priests. Mary of Magdala was the apostle to the apostles, chosen by Jesus to "go and tell" the good news of the Resurrection. The Roman Catholic Church show follow the example of Jesus and nclude women and married men as priests.
Roman Catholic Women Priests are following the example of Jesus and reclaiming our ancient Christian tradition of women in ordained ministry. We are leading the Roman Catholic Church into its future which is NOW in grassroots communiities of equals. The Vatican should follow the example of Jesus and affirm women as equals in all areas of church life including priesthood.
http://www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org
There are no RCC women priests. Only dillusional women who think they are priests, following demonic spirits away from the fullness of the truth.
Gerald– you're absolutely right–it's kind of like you being a dillusional man who thinks he can speak English but in fact can't spell the word "delusional."
DS, well bully for you. You win the spelling bee today. Did I spell everything right for you this time. So now what point of consequence did you make in your post? I must have missed it.
The headline here, as so many headlines–religious or not–are, is deceptive. Faith is a belief, a belief system, a way of life that indicates reliance on the power of God. Catholics are permitted, even encouraged to marry. The conflict is between a particular office in the church and marriage.
I'm a United Methodist so, as we say Down South, and we like our pastors married. Cutie could have remained a Catholic and married–there's a process for renouncing priestly or monastic vows and reclaiming the freedom of the laity.
Many employers have job requirements that seem unfair and silly to outsiders–and some are. Teachers can't be seen drinking on Facebook. In some jobs, you have to wear certain clothes that are only minimally related to the acts performed in them. Some employers do not permit workers to smoke, even away from the job. We've all seen the poor guy who was fired for his tire; and the woman fired for her bumper sticker. One Georgia jurisdiction's court employees can't have a political sign in their yards, even one put up by a Tea Party spouse. The Pony Express riders were to be single, preferably orphans.
Sarah,
I thank you for your post as it is rational. But in Matt 19 Peter says, regarding divorce that it is better for some not to marry. Jesus responds "to some this has been given for the sake of the kingdom". Where is this played out in the methodist Church?