Father Alberto Cutie Tells Maggie Rodgiruez Breaking His Vows Was Wrong; Celibacy Should Be Optional; He May Marry the Woman
CBS News
May 10, 2009
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/11/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main5005429.shtml
(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 admits he's had sex with her.
Father Alberto Cutié sat down for his first television interview since the scandal began on The Early Show Monday.
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The photos -- 25 in all -- have almost single-handely reignited the debate over the celibacy required of priests by the Catholic Church and the Church's refusal to allow priests to marry.
In the exclusive interview, Cutié -- who wasn't wearing his priest's clothes -- told co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez a longtime friendship with the woman became romantic about two years ago, adding that they're in love.
He says he's mulling his next move, which he says could range from breaking up with her to marrying her. The woman, he indicated, wants to marry him.
Conceding he's become "kind of a poster boy" for the debate over priests being celibate, Cutié said priestly celibacy is good, but should be optional.
Overall, he said he's "deeply sorry" about all that's happened.
Rodriguez disclosed last week that her family in Miami Beach has known Cutié well for many years.
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 Cutié of his duties at his church and taken him off the air, but many of his parishioners turned out at an emotional rally in Miami Beach on Thursday backing him.
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