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	Father Alberto Excommunicated Himself by Becoming Episcopalian, Miami Archbishop Says South Florida Sun-Sentinel May 28, 2009 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-father-alberto-episcopalian-bn052809,0,2043083.story MIAMI - Archbishop John C. Favalora says the Rev. Alberto Cutie is "separating himself from the Communion of the Roman Catholic Church by professing erroneous faith and morals." Cutie has effectively excommunicated himself from the Catholic Church, Favalora said Thursday in a press conference at the Pastoral Center in Miami Shores. Cutie has announced he would become an Episcopalian and marry his lover, The Miami Herald reported. "Father Cutie's actions have caused grave scandal within the Catholic Church, harmed the Archdiocese of Miami . . . and led to division within the ecumenical community," the archbishop said. He spoke shortly after Cutie held his own press conference, accompanied by his girlfriend, Ruhama Buni Canellis, at Trinity Cathedral in Miami, the mother church for the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, The Herald reported. On May 5, Cutie was stripped of two prominent posts -- head of Pax Communications, a church broadcast ministry, and pastor of St. Francis de Sales parish on Miami Beach -- after the Spanish-language magazine TVnotas published photos of him with a woman. He asked Favalora for a leave of absence, then resurfaced Thursday with his plans to enter the Episcopal Church. Favalora also voiced his "sincere disappointment" with Episcopal Bishop Leopold Frade, who accompanied Cutie at the press conference at Trinity. He said Frade hadn't told him he was considering Cutie for the Episcopal Church. "Bishop Frade has never spoken to me about his position on this delicate matter or what actions he was contemplating," Favalora said. "This truly is a serious setback for ecumenical relationships and cooperation between us." Oddly, although Cutie has put himself outside Catholic ranks, he technically remains a priest -- although one who cannot perform legitimate sacraments, according to Monsignor Michael Souckar, archdiocesan chancellor and a canon lawyer. Cutie must ask the pope directly for the "favor" of releasing him from his priestly vows, Souckar said.
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