It goes without saying that we’ve never understood vows of celibacy.
In fact, we think the Roman Catholic Church’s refusal to allow its priests to get married or have sexual relations is a big reason for all of the altar boy scandals that continue to rock the church … even here in South Carolina.
But the curious case of Alberto Cutie – the hunky Miami priest who’s decided to ditch Catholicism after he got caught making out with his girlfriend on a Miami beach – has taken a strange twist. And no, we’re not referring to Cutie’s admission that he indeed “broke his vows” with the comely Ruhama Buni Canellis (above). Because “duh.” That was a predictable twist.
Just look at her … aye Cabana boy!
No, we’re referring to Cutie’s decision to … wait for it … become an Episcopalian.
Yup.
You heard that right.
The poster boy for heterosexuality in religion is now joining a church that, um, that … that … you know what? Just look at this picture.
Needless to say, the Catholics are pissed. In fact, from their newspaper:
“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 Cutié, and Ruhama Buni Canellis, the woman pictured in the photographs which catapulted this sad affair into the headlines, into the Episcopal Church.
Frankly, it’s hard to feel any sympathy for either faith.
One is too tethered to the past, the other has lost all connection to Christianity via its headlong dive into politically-correctness.
Of course both are a notch above Free Will Baptists, who are too tethered to snakes and have lost all connection with personal hygiene.
Want some free advice? Go Lutheran. Or Presbyterian. Their parishioners are hotter.
Or you can embark on an Annie Savoy-style lifelong spiritual journey that lands you in the church of baseball.
Of course, “Padre Oprah,” Rome does have a point. God probably would’ve liked it had you put the horse before the cart in this instance.
By StupidShouldHurtMore (SSHM) May 29, 2009 at 10:33 am
Episcopalian = Catholic Lite
All the ceremony. Half the guilt. :)
It’s a logical jump.
- SSHM
By Cooter Brown May 29, 2009 at 10:38 am
He coudda went Orthoxox, I rekon, but hi church is hi church… I dont much care fer churches tha’ dont handle snakes!
By kenneth May 29, 2009 at 10:53 am
If only he could have his relationships on a secretive and predatory footing like a good Catholic priest, all of this unpleasantness would have been avoided!
By Joe May 29, 2009 at 11:01 am
“In fact, we think the Roman Catholic Church’s refusal to allow its priests to get married or have sexual relations is a big reason for all of the altar boy scandals that continue to rock the church …” Try analyzing the situation rather than thinking. You “think” therefore you spout. The “alter boys scandals” were perpetrated by homosexuals in the overwhelming majority of cases. Some bishops in 60′s and 70′s, wanted to be accepted by the culture and began to fall for the “I’m ok. you’re ok.” philosophy. Even a cursory look at the numbers as published by the John Jay College of Law study shows that
these predators allowed into the priesthood were homosexuals. The reason for the scandal was not that these men couldn’t get their rocks off, it was because their deviant predilections were inconsistent with Church teaching and law. In short, it was a crisis of fidelity to Christ and His Church. You “think” again that the Church is too “tethered to the past”. Well now, isn’t that so modern and enlightened of you. You sound just like the bishops who let the homosexuals into the priesthood. The Church is tethered to Christ – past, present and future. The Church doesn’t jettison what society doesn’t understand or “hard teachings” (John 6:60) just because the Lutherans or Presbyterians are “hotter” or have fewer tethers. Some people in the Church are evil and that gives the whole Church a black eye. The Church is a big target but she expects that the world will hate her. John 15:18-27 Protestant sexual scandals or public school teacher scandals don’t get near the press because Protestant Church “A” and Protestant Church “B” are not directly related except in general “Christianity”. Aside from a few generalities the various groups are not one. The Catholic Church is ONE throughout the world since Pentecost. Christ himself extolled the virtues and the great gift of celibacy “for the sake of the kingdom.” St Paul did as well. cf. Matt. 19:11-12 1 Corinthians 7:2-9. Priestly celibacy is a gift of the Holy Spirit to those willing to heed the call. It is similar to marriage. It’s voluntary. The world thinks it’s ok to marry, divorce, remarry etc. Catholics, tethered to Christ, don’t think that it is ok. Matt 19:9. The Priesthood of Christ is not a right it’s a gift of your whole self to Christ and his Church and a sacrament that requires fidelity, faith and strength – just like marriage. Please stop thinking out loud. You sound dumb.
By ts May 29, 2009 at 11:15 am
That headline is very wily, Willie.
“Heterosexual Priest Becomes … Episcopalian?”
Like — making us think the other side of that coin is that the all the other Catholic priests are homos?
You tryin’ to start some static on this beautiful Friday morning, boy?!?
Nah……………………….
By ts May 29, 2009 at 11:15 am
BTW — Father Cutie must be a nose man.
By Mab May 29, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Joe –
That is a beautiful argument for the unity of the Catholic Church, as opposed to the fragmentation of other denominations within Christianity.
The widely-painted black eye on the Catholic priesthood is a shame. The number of abuses/indiscretions reported are deceiving for a variety of reasons — which you nailed, in toto. Nice work.
By male sapphist May 29, 2009 at 12:18 pm
He should have jumped to the Eastern Orthodox Church but to be fair to the Roman Catholics one reason that the protestant churches have less of a ‘realized’ sex scandal is that frequently there is no overarching controlling moneybags authority like the Roman Catholic Church for lawyers to lust after.
If you take a look at the government school faculty, staff, and administration you will find criminal sex offenders in much greater concentration than the general population. The same is true, I believe, for those involved in child protective services.
Scary indeed.
By Joe May 29, 2009 at 4:24 pm
male sapphist, A study was actually done on the public school system in Colorado several years ago when some anti-Catholic legislators were trying to remove the statute of limitations retroactively on the sex crimes committed by Catholic priests. The position of the Bishop was, “Let’s lift the SOL on all sex crimes and not just single out Catholics.” When the study was completed, it determined that a child was 100 times more likely to be molested by a public school teacher than a priest. The anti-Catholic legislators withdrew the legislation. So you are correct.
By andrers77 May 31, 2009 at 12:13 am
The reason for the sexual abuse by priests is because of celibacy ???
If there are any Christians reading this, I have one question: we are all called to purity whether you are single or married (single there is obviously no sexual relations). So if you are a single man say in your 20s who should be living in purity and not having sex until you’re married, there will be times of great temptation. During these moments of trial do any of you begin to be attracted to children ??? Priests dont become child molesters, child molesters become priests.
By andrers77 May 31, 2009 at 12:15 am
One other comment…there are MORE sexual scandels within the combined American Protestant Churches than within the American Catholic Church…
By George January 10, 2010 at 7:45 pm
I agree with Joe’s first posting on May 29th. My personal belief is: the Roman Catholic Church is a “safe haven” for souls…The RCC needs prayer
and continued grace from Our Lord…Meanwhile: The Anglican Communion is in trouble…it is a “battleground” of good vs evil these days…with all the humanistic and New AGE talk….and down right heretical teachings of some….with due respect, the Anglican Communion is sick…yet not dead…
in Christian love I embrace the Anglican Communion just as Jesus taught us to minister to the sick….Jesus came to heal the sick…the healthy do not need a physician….The Anglican Communion is today’s “Prodigal Son” of the Apostolic traditions….So, I love the Roman and Eastern Rite Churches, yet I align myself (as Jesus did) with those in most need, the sick and needy, the Anglican Communion….Kyrie Eleison