Passion priest Alberto Cutie has left the Catholic Church for TEC:
He was received into Episcopal Church in a ceremony Thursday at Trinity Cathedral. He must complete other requirements before serving as an Episcopal priest.Cutie spoke briefly at a press conference and read a statement in English and Spanish. He quoted from the book of Psalms and said, "More than ever, I'm assured that God is love."
He continued, "I have searched my soul and sought God's guidance for a long time."
Before walking away without answering questions, Cutie thanked supporters and asked the media to respect his privacy.
He did not address his relationship with the woman in the pictures or plans to marry her.
"I thank God for the many people in our community who have shown me their love and support," Cutie said in a statement released earlier Thursday. "Your prayers have truly sustained me at this time of transition in my life. With God's help, I hope to continue priestly ministry and service in my new spiritual home."
Cutie has previously said he supports the Catholic Church's stand that priests should be celibate and does not want to become the "anti-celibacy priest."
Well, I hope he finds repentance, healing and peace with God. And I hope he loses his taste for media exposure.
UPDATE: I hadn't realized until reading in the comboxes how active the Episcopal bishop there had been in recruiting Cutie. I know the Episcopal Church has a catechumenate, just like the Catholics and the Orthodox do. That his new bishop received him without the catechumen period, and not only that but has scheduled him to preach at the cathedral on Sunday, reflects poorly not only on Cutie, but on the Episcopal bishop. Showboaters.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
Face it: among historically Roman Catholic people such as working-class whites of immigrant descent including Hispanics, it's uncool to become an Episcopalian. (The legions of Bad Catholics are not liberal Protestants or Modernist RCs trying to change the faith.) Or as more than one person has said, why is this very heterosexual macho man joining a church of middle-aged women and gay men?
Whether that characterisation of Episcopalians is fair or not, I don't think for a second he would have done this - which under normal conditions would have risked his standing among Hispanics - if he didn't get caught. IOW, IMO that 'discernment' story is BS.
I also question why he wants to be a priest, Roman or Episcopal. Is it really a call to minister, which he could have answered quietly, perhaps taking a year off instead of showboating in an alb from the pulpit for the media right after switching (IMO Bishop Frade should have shown some ecumenical respect by forbidding that - in the face of Roman non-recognition of his orders it would have been the gentlemanly thing to do which Episcopalians used to be known for), or is this a livelihood and spotlight for a vain man?
Blog.
When a RC priest is ordained, he takes a VOLUNTARY vow, after many years of seminary and discernment. It is literally a marriage vow. He cheated on his spouse (the Church) plain and simple...and left his spiritual children.
The Church did not drag him into the priesthood. It takes many years to become a priest - If he wanted to "get a divorce" he should have some discernment and class.
It is akin to leaving your longtime wife and children for your young secretary and parading her around -in Cutie's case literally on television and rubbing it in peoples noses.
I have no animosity toward Epis. church, but they should know about priestly vows and it is embarrassing and unseemly to be so gleeful... Well - they have a new priest who doesn't take his vows very seriously so congratulations to them.
I'm starting to think that Cutie had set this whole thing up so he could leave the RC church much faster. He was already having problems with his being a priest even BEFORE the pictures were made public. You can't tell me he didn't know that because he was well know, there were people out there trying to destroy him. He thought little for his bishop or RC priests who are terrific examples of Holy Men of God. This too shall pass, but he has been rightly excommunicated because he is now in schism. How any priest can willfully leave such an August position is beyond me. He knew what the sacrifices were BEFORE he enter priestly studies. So if he wasn't able to keep is promises to the RC church, and if the Epis. church ends up not meeting his needs, is he going to jump ship yet again? Shame on you Cutie, shame on you! Oh by the way, the woman is just as guilty as he is. She knew who and what he was. Somehow the word 'adultery' comes to my mind. It applies to him too.
My guess is Cutié doesn't give a toss about the tenets on paper of Episcopalianism and that to him ministering to Episcopalians or RCs is secondary to remaining Padre Alberto, superstar. He'll stay as long as it's a vehicle to that goal or else adiós, Dr Schori and Bishop Frade.
Blog.
God Bless Father Cutie may he always be loved and be happy!!!
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.