May 8, 2009 11:56 pm US/Eastern
Episcopal Church Would Welcome Embattled Priest
Father Alberto Cutié Was Caught On Camera Kissing And Hugging A Woman.
CBS's Maggie Rodriguez Will Interview Cutié Monday In The Early Show
MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) ―
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This is the cover of the TV Notas Magazine featuring the controversial pictures of Father Alberto Cutié hugging and kissing a woman.
Courtesy Of TV Notas Magazine
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Juan Soler was met with opposition after he expressed that Father Albert Cutié should be punished.
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For the second time, supporters of Father Albert Cutié gathered in front of St. Francis de Sales church in Miami Beach, where Cutié used to lead mass. They are demanding not only that the Archdiocese of Miami reinstate him, some are also demanding changes to the entire Catholic religion.
This Friday evening rally looked more like a sermon, with the 50 people gathered to urge the Archdiocese to forgive Father Albert Cutié for possibly breaking his vow of celibacy. The rally and march were peaceful. That's a far cry from Thursday's rally that turned violent, leaving a counter-demonstrator on the ground.
Many who came to the rally were emboldened after seeing a Spanish-language television interview with Father Albert. In that interview with Univision's Teresa Rodriguez, Father Albert said he asked for time away from the church since this scandal broke, but he said, "I'm a priest and I will be a priest until I die."
In that interview, he also said he's known Canellis for 10 years. He said, "I can say it's a woman I love. Since I met her I liked her." He went on to say, "Maybe there is something that I could have done differently…and I am the only one responsible for that. I am the only one guilty of that. The kind of guilt that makes you feel horrible? No. Because I believe that I am a man. I never stopped being a man...."
Meanwhile, the spiritual leader and head of the Episcopal church in South Florida tells CBS4 he believes that popular Catholic priest Alberto Cutié will make a decision soon to become an Episcopal priest.
The Rt. Rev. Leo Frade, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, told
CBS4's Peter D'Oench he's spoken twice with Father Cutié at length since the provocative photos surfaced in TV NOTAS Magazine, showing Cutié kissing and caressing 35-year-old Ruhama Canellis on the beach.
"I think the issue for Father Cutié is one of celibacy," said Bishop Frade. Celibacy is required of Catholic priests. It is not required of Episcopal priests.
Frade and Cutié share some common bonds. Both are Cuban-American and they have known each other since 2002. Frade says he told Cutié that the Episcopal Church would welcome him "with open arms." He said Cutié would have to go through a process of orientation and initiation that any other priest would have to go through. It would take at least a year for Father Cutié to become a full-fledged Episcopal priest.
CBS4 News have not been able to reach Father Cutié to see if he will take Bishop Frade up on his offer and Frade does not known when Cutié will make a decision.
"But I believe, based on our conversations that Father Cutié is inclined to join the Episcopal faith. It's not a matter of how we feel and what is right or wrong," Frade said.
He said there are different ways in which different priests express their love of Christ. He said there are five other former Catholic priests who have joined the Episcopal clergy South Florida. He said that about a fourth of his priests have chosen to remain celibate.
Bishop Frade did say, "When we see all the hullabaloo about this, with a single man on the beach with a single woman, we scratch our heads and wonder what is going on. They are both single."
Father Cutié has also said that he knew the pictures would soon be public after he heard a lifeguard say his name on a cellphone. About 15 minutes later, he saw a photographer taking pictures.
He will have more to say on this subject on Monday, when
CBS News Morning Anchorwoman Maggie Rodriguez is scheduled to have an exclusive interview with Cutié.
Some 60 demonstrators marched in front of his former church St. Francis de Sales on Thursday, with some holding signs saying, "Celibacy no, choice yes."
Cutié earlier in the week released a statement saying, "The commitment I made to serve God will remain intact."
Father Cutié, 40, is well-known because of his work in Spanish-language television and radio. He has hosted a weekly television show for GENTV and has written a weekly column for
El Nuevo Herald. He's also an author having published a self-help book in 2006.
CBS4's Natalia Zea contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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