Father Alberto

[melporcristo]

JMJT

My grandmother just saw this on the Spanish news tonight.

It makes me sad.

Prayers to Alberto Cutie and all those who feel they know better than Holy Mother Church.


Print This Article
Posted on Fri, May. 08, 2009
Supporters of Padre Alberto Cutié call for end to celibacy rule

BY JAWEED KALEEM, TRENTON DANIEL AND JOSE PAGLIERY
jkaleem@MiamiHerald.com
The Rev. Alberto Cutié's future with the Catholic Church remained in doubt on Thursday, but there was no question that photos of the popular priest embracing a woman on a Florida beach have fueled the debate over the celibacy requirement for Catholic clergy.

It was certainly on display Thursday morning in front of Cutié's South Beach parish near Alton Road, where more than 60 sign-waving supporters rallied to the priest's defense.

''Celibacy no! Choice yes! 21st century,'' they declared in Spanish. ``I admire, I respect, I pardon Father Alberto!''

''He has the right to fall in love and start a family. They're treating him as a sinner,'' said John Olan, 55.

''I think this is the precise moment for the church to recognize that priests are flesh and blood,'' said Violeta Ascue, who attends Cutié's church regularly. ``They should marry, too. I'm sure they'd still be exemplary people.''

The Archdiocese of Miami, which removed the priest from his duties at St. Francis de Sales, said Cutié must decide his future with the Catholic Church. Cutié remained in seclusion on Thursday.

CHURCH STATEMENT

In a prepared statement earlier this week, Archbishop John C. Favalora said Cutié violated the church's position on celibacy.

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

''Scandals such as this offer an occasion for the church on all levels to examine our consciences regarding the integrity of our commitments to the Lord and to his Church,'' he added.

The Roman Catholic Church says its 900-year-old celibacy policy allows priests to dedicate themselves to God and the church without distraction. Historians say it also had to do with money in a church that did not want married priests passing on wealth to children. Money could still be an issue: Married priests would require higher salaries and better benefits.

As recently as March, the outgoing archbishop of New York said in a radio interview that the celibacy requirement ''has to be looked at'' given the dwindling number of priests. ''I think that it's going to be discussed,'' Cardinal Edward M. Egan said.

While the United States had 57,000 priests for 52 million Catholics in 1985, there were fewer than 41,000 last year for 64 million Catholics, according to Georgetown University's Center for the Applied Research in the Apostolate. Three priests will be ordained Saturday in Miami.

''There is quite a bit of discussion behind the scenes on the issue by church officials,'' said Sister Christine Schenk, executive director of FutureChurch, a Cleveland-based group that advocates the ordination of women and asks: Is it realistic to require a priest to refrain from sex and marriage?

CELIBACY RULE

In 1980, Pope John Paul II quietly made provisions for married Protestant clergymen who converted to Catholicism to become priests. In addition, church deacons, who can perform most priestly functions except hearing confession and consecrating the Eucharist, can become priests if their wives die.

In 2006, however, Pope Benedict XVI reaffirmed the celibacy policy and excommunicated an African bishop for ordaining four married men as priests.

In Eastern Rite churches such as the Maronite Church, which are autonomous but recognized by the Vatican as Catholic, married men can become priests but unwed priests cannot marry.

Priests who want to marry can request permission to join the laity or abandon the church.

Five former Roman Catholic priests, now married, serve as clergymen in the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida.

At RentAPriest.Com, a website run by a national group of former Roman Catholic priests called Celibacy Is the Issue, eight South Florida men are listed as offering their services for marriages and other rites.

''They should definitely change the celibacy rule,'' said one of them, Paul Veliyathil, 58 of Coral Springs, who left the priesthood in 1988 and later married. Now a chaplain at Vitas Hospice Services, he said he would be a much better priest today, as a husband and a father, than he was as a celibate man in his native India.

In an unscientific MiamiHerald.com poll on Thursday, 77 percent of more than 4,800 readers who responded said the Catholic Church should reconsider the requirement that priests be celibate.

Last week, days before compromising photos of him with an unidentified woman were published in a Mexican magazine, Cutié told an interviewer the church should give Catholic priests the choice to marry.

''If they want to discipline me, let them discipline me, but I think the option would be better and healthier,'' he said on WSBS-TV's Paparazzi TV program.

Thursday's rally at Saint Francis de Sales drew criticism from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a national group.

''When Catholics enthusiastically and publicly back priests accused of misdeeds, it's hurtful. It intimidates others who've seen, suspected or suffered clergy crimes into staying silent,'' director David Clohessy said in a statement.


© 2009 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
[url="http://www.miamiherald.com"]http://www.miamiherald.com[/url]


[url="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/top-stories/story/1037751.html"]http://www.miamiherald.com/news/top-storie...ry/1037751.html[/url]

[CatherineM]

Celibacy can be especially hard on those whose cultures make being married and having children part of the requirements of being a real man, like Africa or Latin America.

[melporcristo]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1862243' date='May 8 2009, 09:55 PM']Celibacy can be especially hard on those whose cultures make being married and having children part of the requirements of being a real man, like Africa or Latin America.[/quote]

agreed.

[melporcristo]

JMJT


This was posted May 8th on EWTNews.com. It's very fitting for this situation.

Bad Examples Do Not Invalidate Value of Priestly Celibacy, Says Bishop

Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 7, 2009 (CNA).- Bishop Juan Ruben Martinez of Posadas in Argentina said celibacy cannot be reduced to a "mere imposition of the Church" and that "bad examples and even our own limitations do not invalidate the contribution of so many who, in the past and today, give their lives for others."

Bishop Martinez said that a "materialistic vision" of man that is based solely on "instinct and the physiological" makes it difficult to these values as a "gift of God" and an "instrument of service to humanity and to the common good." He recognized that "from materialistic anthropology, celibacy and monogamous marriage tend to be considered as something unnatural." However, he warned, "To reduce celibacy to a mere imposition of the Church is in fact to insult our intelligence and Christ himself who was ‘the eternal high priest,’ ‘celibate,’ and gave his life for all of us, and he himself recommended it. It is to insult the biblical texts which show great respect for celibacy and chastity for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, and it insults the Fathers, doctors and pastors of the Church from apostolic times to the present."

"Uniting celibacy with the priestly ministry is a more radical Gospel choice made by the Church based on her authority and supported by the Word of God and the testimony of the saints and of so many men and women who, throughout history, strove and strive through this gift and even through their own frailties to give everything exclusively to God and his people. Bad examples and even our own limitations do not invalidate the contribution of so many who, in the past and today, give their lives for others," the bishop said.

He went on to note that only on the basis of faith can we have "a profound understanding of issues such as life, the family, marriage, the Church and her mission, the priesthood and celibacy."

Bishop Martinez encouraged Catholics to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, "trusting in the initiative of God and man’s response," and he thanked God, who continues to call young people to consecrate themselves to God and their brothers and sisters. "They respond to the call because they believe in love," he said.

[Brother Adam]

Yes, let's interview lay people who don't understand church theology and are engrossed in the "if it feels good" culture.

[Era Might]

My father always jokes that I follow "Padre Alberto." That is, that I'm Catholic. My father is not very favorable toward Catholicism, but he listens to Padre Alberto sometimes on the radio. I was saddened to read about this scandal. Pray for Padre Alberto and for those who will be scandalized by his actions.

By the way, I'm not sure that Padre Alberto is leaving the Priesthood. Here is the message on his website:

[quote]Before God - full of love and mercy - I ask for the forgiveness of those who may be hurt or saddened by my actions. Since I entered the seminary at the age of 18, the priesthood has brought me great joy. The commitment that I made to serve God will remain intact. I am grateful for the love and support I have received today from so many in our community, especially my parishioners and the supporters of the radio stations who have demonstrated great compassion and understanding toward me as a human being. I ask for your continued prayers and support.[/quote]

[cappie]

But, of course, the answer to violating the vows of celibacy ... is to observe the vows of celibacy. Not to toss them out! That's why the public improprieties of Fr. Cutie constitute such a grave scandal - they diminish the witness of the Church to the world.

Yes, we ought to pray for Fr. Cutie, but let's also re-double our prayers for the noble young men (and women) who are faithfully living lives of celibacy as they study to become priests (and professed women religious).

Let us also pray for those who have already taken on the vow of celibacy that they remain faithful to it and thereby provide the world with a wonderful (and so needed) witness!

[url="http://www.americanpapist.com/2009/05/fr-cutie-exposed-by-mexican-tabloids.html"]http://www.americanpapist.com/2009/05/fr-c...n-tabloids.html[/url]

Edited May 9, 2009 by cappie

[AdAltareDei]

I never understood the whole argument of "it's only a rule so the priests don't leave their money to the kids, but to the Church instead".

They do realize that most diocesan priests don't own anything of great value? They live in a house owned by the Church and receive an average allowance to buy groceries and socialize.

The most valuable possesion that the priests I know have is a little run down car.

[Hassan]

[quote name='AdAltareDei' post='1862280' date='May 8 2009, 11:49 PM']I never understood the whole argument of "it's only a rule so the priests don't leave their money to the kids, but to the Church instead".

They do realize that most diocesan priests don't own anything of great value? They live in a house owned by the Church and receive an average allowance to buy groceries and socialize.

The most valuable possesion that the priests I know have is a little run down car.[/quote]

I think the argument is that that was the origins of the rule.

My grandfather is an Episcopalian Priest.

It's a mixed bag, I understand the Church's stand.

[Vincent Vega]

As a matter of personal opinion, I would be quite happy to see the discipline of celibate priests gone tomorrow.
The only thing is that no bishop, cardinal, or Pope has ever asked me, though. I'd assume they've never asked those protesting either, or those who betray their call to celibacy per their position in life.
Is the celibacy thing outdated? It very well may be. That's not our call to make, though. I'm sure if or when the Holy Father finds it prudent, he will make a change. Until then, Fr. Cutié, nor Catherine, nor dUST, nor myself, nor any other Catholic can just do as he pleases because that's the way he thinks it [i]should [/i]be.

[Era Might]

[quote name='USAirwaysIHS' post='1862306' date='May 9 2009, 12:05 AM']As a matter of personal opinion, I would be quite happy to see the discipline of celibate priests gone tomorrow.
The only thing is that no bishop, cardinal, or Pope has ever asked me, though. I'd assume they've never asked those protesting either, or those who betray their call to celibacy per their position in life.
Is the celibacy thing outdated? It very well may be. That's not our call to make, though. I'm sure if or when the Holy Father finds it prudent, he will make a change. Until then, Fr. Cutié, nor Catherine, nor dUST, nor myself, nor any other Catholic can just do as he pleases because that's the way he thinks it [i]should [/i]be.[/quote]
Even if the Church lifted the discipline, it would not apply to those who are already Priests. In the Eastern Churches, once you are ordained, you cannot marry. I don't know if Eastern seminarians are allowed to date (I doubt it). The Church has never allowed Priests to marry. There's a difference between allowing Priests to marry, and ordaining married men.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1862315' date='May 9 2009, 12:11 AM']Even if the Church lifted the discipline, it would not apply to those who are already Priests. In the Eastern Churches, once you are ordained, you cannot marry. I don't know if Eastern seminarians are allowed to date (I doubt it). The Church has never allowed Priests to marry. There's a difference between allowing Priests to marry, and ordaining married men.[/quote]
Yes.

[princessgianna]

Though isn't it seen that the priest marries the Church.
I personally know a married priest ( was atheist , converted to Lutheranism got married -became minister then converted to Catholicism) Cardinal Raztinger signed the papers saying it was ok that he was a married priest.

If you ask him what he thinks of married priest-he hates the idea. Raising children, being married to his wife and fulfilling the duties of a priest is impossible! His family sacrificed so much so that he could be at priest. Sadly only one out of five are still catholic. From what he has said it was obvious he was not a there for his children when they really needed a dad.

Like I said before doesn't the priest take the Church as his bride??

Peace
PG~

[TotusTuusMaria]

saw this on anderson cooper last night.

pretty depressing. for him.

[jmjtina]

saw his interview today with impacto......

he remains unrepentant, wouldn't change a thing and did it so "it could be out in the open".

"God is love, so this is not wrong."

I held out some hope for him, but it seems he has chosen to be with this woman, since, as he said, "Is only a man who is full of love for one woman who has an immense faith." And yes, he said he still loves this woman and she loves him. it is "freedom" now.

While I am not one to judge, he needs to be out of the limelight. He needs our prayers.

this is heartbreaking.