South Florida Sun-Sentinel
May 5, 2009
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-alberto-cutie-photos-bn050509,0,1374112.story
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| Father Alberto CutiA© also known as 'Padre Alberto' is featured on the cover of TV Notas magazine |
Father Alberto Cutie stripped of parish, radio job
MIAMI - The Rev. Alberto Cutie was stripped of his parish and Catholic media outlet on Tuesday following a talk with Archbishop John C. Favalora over reports and photos in the Spanish media, purporting to show him on a beach with a woman.
The priest is no longer in charge of Pax Catholic Communications, Miami, or St. Frances de Sales parish on Miami Beach, said Mary Ross Agosta, the archbishop's spokesperson.
The Rev. Jose Hernando, former president of Pax, has been appointed its general director, Agosta said. The outfit includes Radio Paz and its English-language counterpart, Radio Peace.
An administrator for the parish hasn't been announced yet.
"Our job now is healing the parish and the staff, and Father Cutie," Agosta said. "This is a sad day for the entire archdiocese."
She said Cutie and Favalora spoke "one on one," with no one else present. She also said the archbishop had said nothing of the exchange, including whether Cutie confirmed or denied the photos.
Father Cutie emailed an apology Tuesday afternoon, asking forgiveness from "those who may be hurt or saddened by my actions . . . The commitment that I made to serve God will remain intact."
The priest also expressed gratitude for the support of his parishioners and supporters of the radio stations "who have demonstrated great compassion and understanding toward me as a human being."
The story broke with TV Notas, a Latino entertainment publication, which claimed it had paparazzi photos of Cutie with a woman on a beach in Miami. The wire agency Notimex wrote a story, which was then posted on Univision's Web site.
Favalora issued his own statement Tuesday, saying he was "deeply saddened" by the reports about Cutie.
"Father Cutie made a promise of celibacy and all priests are expected to fulfill that promise with the help of God," the statement said. "Father Cutie's actions cannot be condoned despite the good works he has done as a priest."
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