BishopAccountability.org
	Father Cutie Gets Standing Ovation at His First Sermon at New Episcopal Church By Diana Moskovitz, Jaweeed Kaleem and Jose Pagliery Miami Herald May 31, 2009 http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/breaking-news/story/1074580.html [with video] On his return to the pulpit Sunday, Rev. Alberto Cutie tried to say hello to his new congregation. He couldn't. First came the standing ovation. Then, cheering. And the cameras, held high in the air, as though at a rock concert, capturing every moment. Inside the tiny Episcopal Church of the Resurrection of Biscayne Park, more than 300 people -- more than three times the normal attendance -- turned out to greet him for Sunday morning service. Cutie looked out at the crowd and said, ``I am humbled by your presence here.'' The priest nicknamed ''Father Oprah'' gave his first sermon since famously leaving the Roman Catholic Church after published photographs showed him nuzzling a woman on a Florida beach. Unlike in Catholicism, Episcopal priests can marry. Meanwhile, his former church in Miami Beach continued to grapple with the departure of Cutie, who gained media fame across the Spanish-speaking world doling out relationship advice on television, radio and in print. At his new Biscayne Park church, Cutie delivered a sermon that spoke of common themes -- God's love, faith and perseverance -- and tossed in a few lighter moments referring to his departure from the Catholic church. At one point, Cutie spoke of a captain lost at sea for so long he ran out of water for his crew. Another ship came by and told the ship's crew to lower their buckets. The captain thought this was crazy. Except, it turns out, the ship had wandered into an area with fresh water. It was a theme he returned to several times -- the love of God is all around. But first we must lower our buckets. During another part of his sermon, Cutie referred to a note, one he didn't have with him at the moment because, ''right now, my stuff is in storage.'' The crowd laughed. He continued, ``They didn't give me much time to pack.'' Cutie closed his sermon saying, ``Church is about living in the spirit of God, and the spirit of God is love.'' What followed was more clapping and more picture taking. The hall, which held about 300, overflowed with people, with latecomers forced to stand. This was the first time for many visitors at the tiny, Earth-toned church, which has been fighting to stay alive, so much so that other Episcopal congregations had been asked to help. Those worries appeared to have been washed away Sunday, thanks to Cutie spotlight, and his followers. Among them was Fabio Gomez, 60, of Miami Beach, who said he hadn't been inside a church for five years. But he came Sunday and sat all the way in the back. He came ''to show my support for Father Alberto to keep going with the church.'' Afterward, Cutie spoke with churchgoers in a separate luncheon area where parishioners hugged him, kissed him and posed with him for photographs. By his side was Ruhama Buni Canellis, 35, who he introduced as his fiancee. The couple left through a back door, escorted by police. After the service, Bishop Leo Frade, head of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, said Cutie had approached the Episcopal church months before the magazine pictures were published. Cutie did so, Frade said, because the priest realized he had begun to think like an Episcopalian. It will take Cutie at least a year to be certified as an Episcopal priest. On Sunday, he wore the white robes of a lay person. Harsh words came from Archbishop John C. Favalora. Pastors in South Florida read a letter from Favalora during Sunday services indicating his disappointment with the switch. ''Father Cutie's actions have caused grave scandal within the Catholic Church, harmed the Archdiocese of Miami -- especially our priests -- and led to division within the ecumenical community and the community at large,'' read the statement, originally issued Thursday. At St. Francis de Sales Catholic church, Cutie's former church, a round of applause greeted the archbishop's words. ''I feel betrayed, disappointed and let down by Cutie, but I understand that he is human,'' said Anne Burgess, 28, a member of St. Francis. She added that she does not plan to hear any of Cutie's sermons as an Episcopalian. ``I come to the church for my faith, not for a celebrity priest.'' In fact, the former priest's name was not mentioned until the last five minutes of the hour-long, internationally televised Mass. It was his replacement, Rev. Juan Carlos Rios, who briefly addressed the attendants of the midday Mass. Anderson Castro and his sister Maria, who both live in Miami Beach and attended the service, lamented Cutie's departure. ''He was the master of this church,'' she Maria Castro, lifting her glasses and wiping her eyes with a white handkerchief. ``It almost makes me cry.'' Her brother was less forgiving. ''He should feel like a king dethroned,'' he said. At Cutie's new church, members enjoyed watching their house of worship be filled with new life. Many in the crowd checked the program to make sure Cutie would be back next week. Michael Stewart, 65, of North Miami, enjoyed the crowd, though not all the media attention. He has worshipped at the church for 10 years, he said. ''I wish people would come to church like this,'' he said, then paused for a moment, ``every Sunday.'' Contact: dmoskovitz@MiamiHerald.com
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.