BishopAccountability.org
	Defiant Cutie Doesn't Create Any Sympathy By Myriam Marquez Miami Herald May 9, 2009 http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1040743.html I'm referring to Alberto Cutié's priestly collar, which he wore during a sit-down interview on the Univisión network Friday, often showing himself as defiant as any teenager caught in the act. Except Cutié is a 40-year-old man who has now admitted to being in love with a 35-year-old divorced mother he has known for 10 years. "I regret hurting others by my actions," he said, "but I will never ask forgiveness for loving a woman." Such blasphemous bluster. ¡Ay, qué macho! No regrets because, as the cliché goes, love means never having to say you're sorry. Even if he broke his vow to his church to remain celibate? Is there not a smidgen of remorse for not coming forward to his bishop when he first fell for this gal -- instead of embarrassing himself, his girlfriend and church with photos from paparazzi? I don't disagree with Cutié's challenge that the Catholic Church, which has been losing priests for decades in the United States, needs to reconsider its centuries-old rule that demands chastity of priests and nuns. The church's delay in cleaning its ranks of pedophile priests the past two decades has turned away many Catholics. We believe that allowing priests to marry -- as the Eastern churches are allowed to do and still answer to the Vatican -- would attract many fine candidates to the priesthood who could understand firsthand the ups and downs of marriage and become better pastors for it. INTENSE PUBLIC SCRUTINY And, yes, Cutié has been under intense public scrutiny since pictures of him and his lady cuddling -- and then some -- on the beach appeared in a magazine. But it's Cutié's manner, his in-your-face way during the exclusive interview with Aquí y Ahora anchor Teresa Rodríguez, that should give people of any faith pause. Because humility was not on display. There was no act of contrition. Righteous indignation? Oh, there was plenty. Among Cutié's zingers: "Guilt? Do I feel bad, horrible? No. I am a man. Under this cassock there are pants." But what's in the head, padre? What's in the heart? In Cuban, we call such showcasing sinvergüenza, shameless. No matter how much pressure he's under, Cutié, who wrote an advice column for our sister paper, El Nuevo Herald, has long been accustomed to the public limelight through his television and radio shows and a book tour. No one wants him to pretend remorse, but a little grown-up contemplation would be good. He's obviously lashing out at church elders, but in my far-from-holy book, he's not winning friends and influencing those who want to understand. CHURCH'S CASH COW It's as if the money-making priest -- a cash cow for the church -- thinks he's invincible. My sympathy for his inner struggle so boldly displayed -- tell me he didn't really want to get caught? -- has morphed into disgust. Cutié could have said all that he said without the attitude and certainly without the collar. He could have said that he is contemplating joining the Episcopalian Church while the Catholic hierarchy figures out what to do about priests and marriage (not in our lifetime, I'm afraid). Instead, he acted like a victim who had no control over his pants, er, priestly robes. He showed little empathy or respect for those who embrace church teachings without question. Just sinful pride. Please, take off the collar, sir. Go snuggle with your main squeeze, pray, have kiddies. Just get a new life.
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