Kissing Fla. Priest Joins Episcopal Church

Former Catholic cleric plans Episcopalian nuptials

(NEWSER) - The onetime Catholic priest whose cavorting with his then-girlfriend led to his departure from the church is headed for the altar—as the groom. The Rev. Alberto Cutié, aka the "kissing priest," and his girlfriend of 2 years plan to wed this month in the Episcopal church, which he joined last month after they were photographed in a clinch on the beach, the Miami Herald reports. More»

(NEWSER) - In scarcely more than a month, Alberto Cutié has gone from celebrity priest to sex scandal poster boy to Episcopalian—now he can add boring old married guy to his resume, reports the AP. The Miami priest who left the Catholic Church amid a racy photo scandal married his secret girlfriend of 2 years yesterday. A judge performed the ceremony. The Vatican has not removed Cutié from the Catholic priesthood, but he is not yet a full-fledged Episcopal priest. More»

Photo scandal may lead him to marry woman he says he loves

(NEWSER) - The celebrity priest whose racy photos sparked a Catholic scandal broke his silence yesterday on The Early Show, admitting he’s in a 2-year sexual relationship with the woman in the pictures. Father Alberto Cutié said he’s in love with her and has never had sex with anyone else since taking his vows. But he acknowledged that he’s become “kind of a poster boy” for the debate over celibacy—which he supports, but believes "people should be given the option to marry in order to serve God." More»

Father Alberto Cutié welcomes daughter with his wife

(NEWSER) - A popular Miami priest who left his Catholic order after admitting to a long-time affair is celebrating the birth of a baby girl with his wife. "With thanksgiving to God, the giver of all life, my wife and I announce the birth of our beautiful baby daughter, Camila Victoria Cutié," the couple said in a statement. "There is great joy in being a Father, who is also a 'father,'" quipped Father Alberto Cutié. More»

But he defends celibacy for clergy

(NEWSER) - Pope Benedict today asked "forgiveness from God" and the children abused by Catholic priests, and promised that the Catholic Church would "do everything possible to ensure that such abuse will never occur again." At a gathering of some 15,000 Catholic clergy in Rome to mark the end of the Year of the Priest, Benedict also vowed that the church would be more careful in deciding who to admit into the priesthood, Reuters reports. More»