Local News

MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) ― There was supposed to be a mass at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Miami Beach Wednesday night. But as parishioners pointed out, what's a mass without a priest?

Many of them are standing behind their former priest, despite more than two dozen photos of him in a celebrity TV magazine that show him kissing and caressing a brunette on the beach—and putting his hand down her bathing suit and touching her buttocks.

Some 25 provocative photographs of popular priest Alberto Cutié appear in the magazine, "TV NOTAS," which started to go on sale at some Navarro Pharmacies for $3.29 and will be widely circulated on Thursday. In the photos, an unidentified brunette is seen in sexually-suggestive poses and is seen pulling off her shirt.

Parishioners like Vanessa Loriga are furious he's gone.

As she flipped through the pages of the TV Notas magazine she said,"He's human, he's human. He feels just like we do. He should have the right to have a companion, he should have someone, he should have a family."

For the past year, Loriga has looked forward to Father Albert officiating her wedding at the church in two weeks.

"My entire family was looking forward to seeing me getting married here, apart from my event, the event that he's going to be the one marrying me and now he's not here...I want him back, I want him to marry me!"

Cutié has been seen worldwide on Spanish-language TV shows and has been the voice of Radio Paz and Radio Peace in Miami. But he was quickly relieved of his duties on Tuesday running his Catholic church and the Catholic radio station of the Archdiocese of Miami.

Near the church at 6th St. and Lennox Ave., several parishioners played a game of dominos and scoffed at what the Archdiocese of Miami found to be very disturbing.

"He's a very good man, a very good man, that's it," said Orestes Molina. "I don't care how many ladies he has."

"I just don't care about these photos," said Molina. "It's my opinion. How much did he sell these pictures for?"

"For me, I believe in Father Cutié," said another parishioner, Magdalena Olivera. "It could be him in the pictures, but I believe in him. Like Jesus said, that's nothing. He's a good priest. He worked hard for the young people. How come they're not coming back right now to show their support?"

As she spoke, one demonstrator showed up at the church with a sign in opposition to Cutié. Her sign said, "Father Cutié. You're a disgrace to the church." She was in the minority. CBS4 News has been told there will be rally in support of the priest in front of the church at 9 a.m. on Thursday.

For the second day in a row, employees at the parish office told us they had not seen Cutié and said he had not returned to his apartment on the property. One secretary was seen removing items from his apartment and putting them in a car. CBS4 News has requested an interview with him.

The identity of the woman in the photos is still a mystery. CBS4 News has learned the identity of the photographer but is not naming him at this point. That station spoke with someone very close to him and requested an interview. She said that they would get back to us with an answer.

The photos of Cutié did raise a question: did Cutié, who was ordained as a priest in 1995, break his church-cherished vow of celibacy?

On Tuesday, Archdiocese spokeswoman Mary Ross Agosta said Cutié would no longer be administrator of the St. Francis de Sales parish on Miami Beach and will no longer the Catholic radio station, Radio Peace and Radio Paz. "He's on a prayerful journey," said Ross Agosta. "He's still a priest, but he is on leave." She said Cutié's future is not clear.

She said Cutié had been traveling and would now "do what he had to do." She said a new administrator is being named for the church and said Father Jose Hernando would now run the catholic radio station.

A parishioner named "Patricia", who wouldn't release her last name, thinks Father Albert should permanently step down from priesthood. "He took an oath and he vowed to celibacy, he knew what he was getting himself into."

Because Father Albert is known internationally, she fears this scandal will impact the Church as a whole.

"He's a model for the Catholic Church and there's a lot of problems happening within the church, and now this is outrageous and it's very, very upsetting," she said.

Since 1998, Father Cutié has hosted several Spanish-language talk shows and programs. He's been seen in 24 million homes in 22 countries. He writes a syndicated newspaper advice column called "Advice from a friend." He's been dubbed "Father Oprah" by his fans. He also was published. His book is "Real Life, Real Love, 7 paths to a strong and lasting relationship." He is the son of Cuban parents. He grew up in Miami and attended Southwest High School.

On Tuesday, Archbishop John Favalora said: "I am deeply saddened by the news surrounding Father Cutié. I apologize on behalf of the church in Miami to the parishioners of St. Francis de Sales Parish, where he serves as administrator, to the listeners and supporters of Radio Paz and Radio Peace and to the entire Archdiocese."

"Father Cutié made a promise of celibacy and all priests are expected to fulfill that promise with the help of God. Father Cutié's actions can not be condoned despite the good works he has done as priest."

Father Cutié released his own statement on Tuesday, saying: "Before God full of love and mercy, I ask the forgiveness of those who may be hurt or saddened by my actions. The commitment I made to serve God will remain intact. I am grateful for the love and support I have received from so many in our community."

CBS4's Natalia Zea Contributed To This Report

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

The Best Of Celebrities In 2009!

• Stars Celebrating The Big 4-0 In 2009
• 2009 Celebrity Deaths
• Big Fame, Fake Name Celebrities
• People's Most Beautiful 2009
• Celebrities And Their Causes