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	Some Parishioners Defend Popular Miami Priest "Padre Alberto" after Racy Photos Surface By Jim Davis South Florida Sun Sentinel May 6, 2009 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-padre-alberto-cutie-photos-bn050509,0,2154607.story [with video] Father Alberto Cutie stripped of parish, radio job MIAMI - Some parishioners of the Rev. Alberto Cutie' defended the popular priest and television personality this morning, despite the Miami Catholic archdiocese punishing him over photos purporting to show him frolicking on the beach with an unidentified woman. ''I would have condemned him if it would have been a young boy, but it was a woman,'' Zunilda Junco, 81, told the Miami Herald as she stood outside St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, where Cutie used to say Mass. ''He hasn't killed anyone,'' said Dominga Jimenez, 83. ''Or raped anyone,'' Junco responded. Cutie was stripped of his parish and Catholic media outlet Tuesday following a talk with Archbishop John C. Favalora. 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. Agosta 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. Mass at St. Francis de Sales was celebrated at 7:30 a.m. by the Rev. Raphael Mieszla, normally a priest at Camillus House. Father Cutie e-mailed 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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