Jun 27, 2009 1:30 pm US/Eastern
Father Alberto Cutié Ties The Knot In Church
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
-
-
A spectator shared this photo with the Miami Herald. In it you see Ruhama Canellis and Fr. Alberto Cutié at their wedding ceremony.
Miami Herald
-
-
Father Alberto Cutie is seen in this undated video grab.
CBS
Father Alberto Cutie and Ruhama Canellis were married Friday night in an hour-long Episcopal service that Episcopal Bishop Leo Frade said was a "beautiful ceremony in the richest Episcopal tradition." Frade officiated the service and told CBS4 it brought a smile to his face. Frade spoke one-on-one with CBS4's Peter D'Oench after the ceremony.
"What can I say," said Frade, "They are in love." Frade said, "We welcome them into our church, as we welcome everyone who wants to join us. We are a very open group, and remember, we Episcopalians don't bite." Frade and Cutie have been friends for nearly a decade and both are Cuban-American.
Reverend Tom Buttrell, of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, attended the service. Afterwards, he told us, "It was a beautiful service, and as such, can be seen as a new beginning for this couple and for Father Alberto Cutie."
A frenzy of photographers and reporters met the former Catholic priest and his bride, 35-year-old Ruhama Canellis, as they arrived in separate vehicles at a private Spanish monastery in North Miami Beach.
Dozens attended the service. Canellis arrived in a black stretch limo, while Fr. Cutié arrived separately in a black Cadillac SUV. The priest had been legally married to Canellis since June 16. Even though news cameras weren't allowed inside the ceremony, CBS4 News acquired three photographs of the groom and bride inside shot by the Miami Herald.
Cutie, known worldwide for his television show while a Catholic priest, was caught on camera in provocative photos. He left the Catholic Church weeks after they were published and joined the Episcopalian church, receiving an invitation from Bishop Frade. At the time, as a Catholic priest, Cutié was under a vow of celibacy, but he was caught by a photographer in loving embraces with Canellis on a beach earlier in 2009. The ensuing scandal and firestorm began to subside when Cutié left the church.
The monastery where the ceremony was held is the oldest European structure in the Western Hemisphere; it was built in Segovia, Spain, in the 12th century and purchased by newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst in the early 20th century. It was disassembled, shipped, and rebuilt at 16711 W. Dixie Hwy. in 1954, according to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald.
Apparently a reception was held on-location after the ceremony, because CBS4 News cameras captured a catering service truck arriving on the property, and guests stayed into the night.
It's not clear where Cutié and his new bride were heading for a honeymoon.
Bishop Frade says it'll take Fr. Cutié about a year to actually become an Episcopal priest. Some spectators at the wedding say they will miss watching Fr. Cutié on TV.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Super Bowl Ad: Snickers & Betty White
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments