Amorous Priest Resurrects to Rousing Applause
Jokes with audience during Episcopalian debut
Updated 9:22 AM EDT, Mon, Jun 1, 2009
"Church is about forgiveness," announced Rev. Alberto Cutie during his first sermon since leaving the Roman Catholic Church after photographs surfaced of him kissing his now fiancee on the beach.
The former priest received a standing ovation at the Episcopal Church of The Resurrection in Biscayne Park and told several jokes, quipping at one point that "my stuff is in storage." He didn't directly address his split with the church.
"The spirit of God has been with me," he said. "And I'm going to tell you something: God is the only one we follow."
Cutie has said his decision to switch was made over time, not since the photos in a Spanish-language magazine rocked South Florida's Spanish-speaking community, where he was known for his good looks and as the host of a TV show on relationships.
It will take Cutie at least a year to be certified as an Episcopal priest.
His switch has drawn harsh words from Archbishop John Favalora, who said he met with Cutie after the photos were published and the priest didn't mention changing churches. Favalora has admonished Cutie and Episcopal leaders in Miami.
Cutie's fiancee has been identified in local media as 35-year-old Ruhama Buni Canellis.
Cutie headed the archdiocese's Radio Paz and Radio Peace broadcasts, heard throughout the Americas and in Spain.
The Cuban-American priest was born in Puerto Rico and previously hosted shows on Telemundo, the second-largest Spanish-language network in the U.S. and the Western Hemisphere. He is also a syndicated Spanish-language columnist and author of the book "Real Life, Real Love: 7 Paths to a Strong, Lasting Relationship."
Ignacio Bolivar, 65, said he thought Cutie was intensely conflicted about his relationship with the woman and his views on marriage.
"I think he tried to tell the Catholic Church what he wanted to do. That he wanted to get married," Bolivar said.
Bolivar also joked about Cutie's talents as a speaker and good looks, in light of his switch: "The Catholic Church has to put ugly priests up there."
Copyright Associated Press
First Published: May 31, 2009 11:22 AM EDT
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