Priest In Steamy Pics To Break His Silence

(CBS)  The celebrity priest at the center of a storm sparked by photos of him in a romantic embrace with a woman on the sands of Miami Beach will sit down for his first television interview on The Early Show Monday.

Father Alberto Cutié will speak with co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez about his future and the reaction of the Archdiocese of Miami to the publication of the photos in a Mexican celebrity magazine. He's also expected to address the debate surrounding the celibacy required of priests by the Catholic Church.

Cutié, a handsome, charismatic TV talk show host, radio personality, newspaper columnist and author known to many as "Father Oprah" is seen in images in the Spanish-language magazine TV NOTAS caressing and kissing a woman. Both were in bathing suits. Sources tell CBS station WFOR-TV in Miami the photos were taken in February.

The Archdiocese of Miami has relieved Father Cutié of his duties at his church and taken him off the air.

But, reports CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella, parishioners turned out in force at a rally in Miami Beach Thursday backing Cutié.

Passions ran so high, says Cobiella, that when one man dared to speak out against Cutié, he was swarmed. Later, the man said, "I don't talk trash. I am saying what I feel."

Father Cutie had talked about his struggle with the vow of celibacy just last week to a Miami TV reporter.

Lourdes Ruiz Toledo, of Paparazzi TV Sensacional, told CBS News, "I asked him off-camera, 'Would you like to be married?' And he said, 'Yes, I would like to be married. I would like to have children." '

Cutié hasn't appeared in public since the scandal broke. The Archdiocese says he's on a prayerful journey to decide his future.

And he'll let everyone in on his thinking on The Early Show Monday.

[MissUSA2009]

Ruhama Canellis was the woman pictured in the magazine with Father Cutie. It was reported that this woman was married in 1994, divorced two years later and has a son. His son is now 14 years old. She was cited for operating a business without a license in 2000 and paid fines. It is evident that it is both Fr. Cutie's and Ruhama's fault. But I believe Ruhama could have played an important role in preventing this to happen. I pity such kind of woman who gets satisfaction in getting the sexual interest of priests. It is clear that this woman is sexually well experienced. She used this experience to attract the inexperienced priest. Father Cutie implied that she is the only person that he got sexual contact with. I guess, most men who get sexually aroused will have a hard time refusing to get sexual contact with a woman who is also willing to have sex. What is the real intention of this woman? Is it because of pride that she was able to get the attention of the priest? Is it because of true love? Whatever reason she has in mind, it is still a big sin on her part.

[MissUSA2009]

When Father Cutie was ordained as a priest, he entered the vow of celibacy. Celibacy is a state of life where one chooses to abstain to any form of sexual activities. However, Father Cutie broke this vow not only lately but few years ago. He was serving the church all those years but was committing a very serious sin. How can someone, like Father Cutie, cheat the people?

As a man, I know sexual urges are natural. Father Cutie is a good looking priest and is not very far from temptation. Priests are man that can fall into temptation of the flesh. This fact has been used by so many priests as the reason to break their vow of celibacy. But as a priest, you have to be a role model to the society in following your commitment, in bearing all hardships and sacrificing in order to follow that commitment.

Yes, Father Cutie?s immoral acts can be forgiven. What is hard to accept is that he knows he has been committing sin and yet has the guts to preach in front of his parishioners. From Father Cutie?s mouth, he said that the beach is an isolated beach and that no one can see them. What is he trying to tell here? Is he saying that if no one sees then sinning is alright. Father Cutie, God sees that you are sinning everywhere you are.

You have written books on relationships. You have advised people on their problems. How can people believe you when you don't even follow your commitment? Were you serious when you entered priesthood? Or were you just using the Church as a medium for your popularity.

[vielmann]

The idea of staying celibate IS biblical.
Posted by wife21 at 5:28 AM

No it's not. And quit making excuses for this krapp. The Christian Bible even clearly condemns those who make it a requirement.

[mikey7779]

yes he did break his vows but its not for us to judge. and not all priest do this or molest children. allowing priest to marry may or may not solve the issue. people (men and women ) cheat on their spouses all the time. there are prodestant preachers who cheat on the wives and their wives cheat on them everyday. it's just not in the news like the Catholic Church. there are child molesters everywhere and of all kinds. single married men women and otherwise. The news, the US and the world has always attacked and criticized the catholic church. It's not the church but some people in it.. realize it.

[ivonneLinder]

He sure knows how to pick them. The girlfriend is a 35 year old masseuse. She has 2 kids; one is 15 and the other is 5 with two different men (can the 5 year old be his??), she has been in and out of courts and wants nothing to do with her own mom. Now that you are a millionaire, be very careful with this one.

[beksardav]

Yes, Fr. Alberto broke his vows. However, we all make mistakes. I have made a so many and the good thing about making mistakes is that it fills your heart with compassion for those that also make them. Fr. Alberto fell in love. There isn't a crime in that. The Church has also made a mistake and that is not allowing priest to marry. This law went into effect many years ago because the Church wanted to keep the monies and land that came when a wealthy man became a priest. If the man was married then the money would go to his family. I remember seeing Fr. Alberto on TV and he would always say, "Remember we are all sinners and there is nothing more loving than forgiveness." I think he might of been talking about himself. I also belive that the fact that he did love someone made him a better priest because most priests live outside the family. They do not have experieces so therefore, their advice is not practical sometimes. I hope that Fr. Alberto is able to marry, have children and serve God. I felt so badly watching him today; he looked tired and had circles under his eyes. The Church needs to change because it is losing its's youth. We went to Church Saturday and my 12 year old daughter went to communion and she had on a very pretty dress, however, her shoulders were not covered. In front of everyone the priest started yelling at her telling her that her shoulders were not covered and therefore, she should't receive Communion. How incredibly stupid is that. She was not showing anything, I come from a strict Catholic upbringing and went to an all girls Catholic School, so I know what is appropriate attire or not. The priest should of been thanking God and someone so young had faith and his job is to cultivate that faith.

The Church needs to change and Fr. Alberto deserves to be happy and I know he will find it. My parents, who are in their 80's, love him and they also agree that priests should get married and that Fr. Alberto needs to find peace and I hope the outpouring from the community on his behalf gives him some sort of peace. We are with you Fr. Alberto and what I pray is that you make peace with yourself, realize that you are human, and if you love this women and have a chance to be happy and create a family, then that is your destiny, no one knows God's purpose and where your new live will lead you. My prayers are with you. God bless.

[KathyKO]

A man should not have to choose between the church and someone is clearly loves. The celibacy rule is not a law from God,it is man made. The first priests and popes were married. The church changed this rule to require celicbacy in order to keep property left to priests from being passed on to their children. The bible suggests that celibacy is the best state in devoting your life to serving God but says that not all men are capable of celibacy and that should not keep them from being able to serve God. Celibacy should be a choice. I truly believe that Priests who experience a family life would be able to more effectively counsel their parishioners in issues relating to family and relationships. As God said, "it is not good that man should be alone" and many priests serving a parish today are living alone and that is not a healthy way to live. Unless the church changes the laws that it created for it's own selfish purpose we will continue to have good and faithful men make the painful decision to leave the priesthhood and fewer men will choose to become priests.

[gretchena1]

I think that Father Cutie has fallen prey to an adulteress in much the same way that so many other men have. I can say this with some level of authority because I have had many men approach me for an affair and much to their dismay I tell them to stay true to their commitment and to stand firm. I think that if men can learn anything from this man's experience it is to read the Word as it is written in Matthew 5:27-5:32; Hebrews 13:4; Proverbs 5 through 7 because the issue here is not whether the church should allow priests to marry or not. The issue here is remaining steadfastly true to a commitment. To stand for what is right and good no matter what the cost.
Thank you CBS for this venue for us, the people, to weigh in on this issue.

[libr27]

Catholics are disappointed in this priests behavior. Like most Faiths from Catholic to Baptist sex outside of marriage is a sin. It didn't stop being a sin because Hollywood said it isn't anymore. Adults have the right to decide what they want to do with their own bodies. They can chose to follow God's way or not. It's up to them. It doesn't matter if this man is a Priest or a Baptist minister .When you decide to follow a career that involves religion you know what you are getting yourself into. What this man should have done is taking a leave of absense when he realized he could no longer follow celibacy a vow he made when he became a priest. By have sex outsdie of marriage, he essentially told all the everyone it's okay to cheat. When married couples get married they take a vow to stay faithful to their spouse. When someone comes along and they no longer want to stay with that person they decide to cheat. They break their vows. Perhaps with our society w we need to change the vows and say "I will be true to you until someone else comes along". We cannot judge the Priest. He is human. It's unfortunate that he was in the media. It would have been better if he had just told the truth that he had fallen in love and would be leaving the priesthood to follow another vocation of marriage. Everyone would have understood. and prayed for him to make the right choice.

[marishka2009]

The Catholic Church would gain so much more by allowing this priest and others like him to marry. He comes across as an honest priest, who "transgressed" in the most normal way an unmarried man can.

Anybody who criticizes a man for falling in love with a woman is living in an unreal world. Let's not even touch the subject of priests who are pederasts and who have hurt the church a thousand times more than a man falling in love with a woman.

On a lighter note, after seeing him on the show today, I have to say that I would have fallen for father Cutié. A man who defends his love on National TV! That is the most romantic piece of news I've seen in years! Move over Jane Austen!

I can just imagine how many of the women who go to his church are in love with him. He must be a very honest and straight man to have fallen in love with ONE woman, she is very lucky, I have already heard from friends in Miami that they would love to be in her shoes.