Fr. Alberto Cutie Renounces his Catholic Faith and becomes an Episcopalian

By Deacon Keith Fournier
5/28/2009
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

'This is truly a setback for ecumenical relations and cooperation between us' said the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Miami

Alberto Cutie and fiancee renouncing their full communion with the Catholic Church by being received into the Episcopal Church.

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MIAMI (Catholic Online) - "This is truly a setback for ecumenical relations and cooperation between us," said the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Miami, who was visibly disappointed. Archbishop John Favalora indicated that he had no communication from the Episcopal Bishop, Leo Frade of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, who had earlier in the day received Alberto Cuti�, and Ruhama Buni Canellis, the woman pictured in the photographs which catapulted this sad affair into the headlines, into the Episcopal Church.

This action by Cutie seems to have totally surprised his former Archbishop who said he had not spoken to Cutie since May 5th and was never informed by the dissident priest that he intended to marry. It also constitutes the formal renunciation of Cutie�s communion with the Catholic Church.

So the sad story of a formerly Catholic priest who broke his vows of celibacy and, after being caught by a photographer in a compromising position with his girlfriend made National and International news, has come to a schismatic and scandalous end. Cutie has formally left the Catholic Church, announced that he plans to marry the woman whom he had dated for two years, and has been accepted as a candidate for ordination into the Episcopal Church, all without his former Bishop ever even having been consulted.

The small, private ceremony of Cutie and Canellis�s renunciation of their full communion with the Catholic Church by their reception into the Episcopal Church occurred at 1:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon in a small private ceremony. The Episcopal Bishop not only received Cutie into the Episcopal Church but gave him preaching credentials, apparently accepting him as a deacon. He will preach at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Biscayne Park. Indications are that he will be ordained as an Episcopal priest after a year of related preparation.

Cuti� spoke with the Press in Spanish saying "I want to continue sharing the word of God. I've seen how many married men serve God. Those who know me know that I would be unable to hurt anyone especially my family and the faithful community. My personal struggle should not interfere with the work of other priests. Today, I have officially joined a new spiritual family. I ask that everyone respect my privacy. In the last few days, there have been rumors and respectfully, I ask you to stop. That's enough. May God bless you all."

The receiving Episcopal Bishop told the gathered Reporters: �This is the best place for Father Cuti�. We welcome him and his fianc�e. We are the Catholic Church. He has not abandoned the Catholic Church. He has left the Roman church. As a deacon, he can read the sermon, perform mass, but not give holy sacrament [of communion.]"

The facts speak for themselves. This is simply a continuing scandal now made worse.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

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1 - 10 of 104 Comments

Father Bill Keebler
1 year ago
The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in "Light of the World," suggests that in the case of a priest in a relationship with a woman, if there is a true relationship present, the priest should lay aside the priesthood and pursue that route. Why in the world would anyone renounce the True Faith when this possibility is present? It is more important to be a Catholic than to be a priest.
mariadavis
2 years ago
Who are we to judge. Paul states that the celibate lifestyle is not for all and better to get married then give in to lustful urges. So he gave in to his urges and got caught. Even Jesus forgave the woman at the well who had "known" many men. Rahab the prostitute helped the Israelites capture Jericho. God uses everyday people to further His kingdom according to His will. I pray Fr. Albert will stay married and honor that commitment. I pray that God will use him to continue to bring many to the knowledge of Christ. Instead of turning so many away from the church, we are called to forgive as Christ forgives us. Only God knows our hearts, not the priests, bishops, or any other hierarchy of the RCC. Therefore, remove the log from your own eye, before you try to remove the splinter from your brother's eye.
maria t. hernandez
2 years ago
why does everyone call him cutie his name is alberto and not cutie. The catholic church does not judge him, whate ever he did he did it to himself. He states for us to respect his prvacy but did he repect God? I feel sorry for him.
So sad, sad. We all continue to pray for his soul.
Adult Dating
2 years ago
This is the kind of thing I try to teach people. Can we count on a sequel?
Liza
4 years ago
Amen Fr. Jim! I completely agree!
karol
4 years ago
so sad to hear about this news...i thought fr. cutie was very faithful in his ministry. this is an issue of ecclesiastical communion in the hierarchy of the church. his action has a domino effect among the hierarchy, the a quo and ad quem. He is schismatic in the eyes of the church and a threat to ecclesiastical communion in the external forum. I wish him the best in his new life. I hope he made a good choice and can stand by it...
Fr. Jim McKay
4 years ago
What is equally sad is the attitude of the Episcopal church official who said that he has not left the Catholic Church, but only the Roman Church. It's a shining example of ignorance and wishful thinking. A reminder of their invalid priesthood and their politically correct 'church' probably wouldn't hurt. The good news is that God is still in charge of His Church, even if the members muck it up at times.
Littleflower
4 years ago
I'm so sad and I take responsibility for what is happening. We should pray more for our priests and not judge them. I pray that Fr. Cutie finds his way back to the Church which will always be there for him and all of us...
David
4 years ago
This is a shame and disgrace to the one and only catholic church.What should the lay faithful do if an ordained priest can do such a thing?let the pope decide on this.Lord have mercy on him and the rest of priests who are involved in this.
Agata
4 years ago
Cutie said he loves the Catholic Church.... if he did, he would have just step out quietly a voiding a scandal within the Catholic Church. I understand him falling in love. I don`t understand his leaving the Church he so adores.....I think he love the limelight more....God forgive him.

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