Padre Alberto Rocks the Church

Well known Miami priest Padre Alberto Cutie is even more famous after a Spanish-language magazine released controversial photos of him on the beach with a woman. The pictures show the priest having a romantic interlude with the woman. The reverend used a nationally broadcast interview to apologize to the church and to his fellow Catholics. The Archdiocese of Miami has not yet decided Cutié's future.

Cutie had his own television shows, hosted radio shows, and also wrote advice columns for newspapers. He
has now been removed from those programs and lost his position in the church as a result of the scandal. “'I take full responsibility for what I did. I know it is wrong,”' he said. But then he also added: “I will never say I'm sorry for loving a woman.”

Cutie achieved recognition with his big television debut in 1999 as the host of Padre Alberto, a daily talk show that was televised on Telemundo. It was seen by millions of people in the U.S. and Latin America. He also published a book called Real Life, Real Love in 2006. It was a bestseller in the Spanish language market. The question, of course, is how a celibate Catholic priest can give advice to married people?

The son of Cuban parents, he was born on April 29, 1969, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The family moved to Miami when he was seven. Alberto was ordained a priest in 1993. The recent photos have stimulated more debate about priests and celibacy. Cutié has said that he still believes in the vow even though
he personally could not keep it. At least a few people in the church had knew for a while that he was involved with a woman.

The priest does not know what he plans to do next. He has said that he would eventually like marriage and children. Cutié's novia seems to be for marriage. At first, Cutié would not come out and say he was ready to leave the priesthood. Of course, things have changed now and he has moved to the Episcopalian church where priests are allowed to marry. Alberto and Ruhama are now married and pursuing a life together.

Alberto hinted that it may have been Cuban spies who followed him and taped him getting frisky with his lover on the beach. Maybe they were just looking for some spiritual inspiration.