Fla.'s 'Father Oprah' joins Episcopal Church

[DeusVeritas]

gee, was there this much outrage during the priest sex abuse scandals? so much self-righteousness by posters. i am a recent convert to Catholicism. after reading this thread, i am wondering if i made a mistake. father cutie is human and he is a man. i think he is being honest with himself. evidently, this is something he has struggled with.
this is between father cutie and God.
the Protestant churches have been our trash receptacle for 400 years? i will remember this quote for the rest of my life. what arrogance!

Are you really going to let what one person said make you doubt your entrance into the Catholic Church and say that you might have made a mistake? Is your faith so easily shaken by the words of a poster that you probably will never meet?

I think you’re reaching a bit too far in saying there wasn’t enough outrage by Catholic’s over the sex scandals. You cannot possibly know what was in the hearts of everything single Catholic when the sex scandals started and how as individuals they chose to deal with it.

And to make such assumptions about how all or some Catholic’s acted concerning the sex abuse scandals on an internet forum which is not representative of the Catholic community worldwide as a whole is not fair in the least.

There is nothing wrong with people feeling righteous anger at this scandal but I do agree the trash receptacle post was NOT appropriate at all.

You have to understand that if you truly believe in what the Catholic Church teaches then it is horrifying to imagine all the souls that are in peril if they are to leave the Catholic Church over the scandal caused by Mr. Cutie.

I will end by saying that *you are loved by your fellow Catholic’s * (my grumpy self included)…so keep strong in the faith and God bless.

 

[Liraco]

What precisely do you mean? If you are a Catholic, you should have access to the *Catechism of the Catholic Church. *Look up what I’ve said and address that.

The problem is that 7 Sorrows is a recent convert and some people are making him doubt his decision. I agree that the “trash” comment is completely uncalled for and I hope those that hold the view are rare (and will see the error of thinking in this way). Don’t let this shake your faith though, continue to pray and strengthen it through all trials.

7 Sorrows, the fact that he’s “being honest” to himself is nothing worthy of praise as what is behind it all is the cause of this scandal. In fact, he’s not been honest with himself or the Church he served for at least the 2 years during which he insisted on this secret relationship.

All he needed to do was to say he was sorry. He instead decided to basically put down the Church he had proclaimed to serve all these years, be unfaithful to his vows, and move to a Church that better served his needs. He’s saying he’ll serve God in a matter more convenient to what he wants, not what *He *wants. How is that a good thing?

What he’s done is the equivalent of saying that he got tired of carrying Jesus’ cross and threw it away for something lighter and easier to carry.

We should all continue to pray for his conversion and for any who are struggling with their own cross that they may endure instead of giving up. Also pray for all the faithful priests who serve as a great example.

 

[DeusVeritas]

So, only a LIBERAL priest could have problems with celibacy and enter into a sexual relationship with a divorced woman while still a priest. The fact is that Fr. Cutie was conservative, not a liberal. He just suffered from the same problem that plagues many famous men (including conservative Catholic men): he had difficulty with chastity.

You are putting words into my mouth by saying that I have said anything even remotely close to ONLY liberals doing such things. I said he is a liberal in shephards clothing due to the fact that he has been in talks for some time with the Epsicopalian Church unbeknownst to his Bishop, has been having this affair for over 2 years in secret, has been in PUBLIC defiance of his own Bishop showing no OBEDIENCE whatsoever, has used the press with an agenda to later come out and announce his leaving the Catholic Church again unbeknownst to his Bishop, for his previous comments concerning homosexuality in interviews… If it quacks like a duck…etc

If Mr. Cutie is a conservative then I’m Ernest Borgnine.

 

[japhy]

i choose not to cast stones. how do you know what God’s will is?

God might permit sin, but God doesn’t will sin.

 

[japhy]

are you worshipping the Church or Christ?

No one here worships the Church, but we believe what she teaches, because God – Who cannot deceive nor be deceived – has revealed it to her.

 

[JW10631]

Mr. Cutie - as by now I assume that he is in the process of laicization - is a significant disappointment to many.

Perhaps he should not have had such a public ministry. I will say this much. Mr. Cutie knew exactly what he was doing when he studied to become a priest. He knew that he was taking the Church as his bride. He was tempted by the woman he intends to marry. He should have sought counseling and withdrawn from active ministry but he chose to break his vows and allowed a tabloid to expose it to the world. He ought to be ashamed of himself.

His was such a promising vocation and he and his girlfriend threw it away.

 

[Joya]

Father Cutie has made a mockery of his priesthood and of the Catholic Church…he not only has committed a sin (premarital sex)…and breaking of his vow of celibacy but he is turning his back upon the very Church he vowed to uphold. I am very disappointed in him and the diocese that has allowed Father Cutie to continue his agenda for his own fame and power…
As a Catholic and a sinner in my own right…I would never think to leave my Church and Faith for another just to justify and continue my sin thru the support of others. What a hypocrisy!!

Excellent post! Thank you.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Are you really going to let what one person said make you doubt your entrance into the Catholic Church and say that you might have made a mistake? Is your faith so easily shaken by the words of a poster that you probably will never meet?

I think you’re reaching a bit too far in saying there wasn’t enough outrage by Catholic’s over the sex scandals. You cannot possibly know what was in the hearts of everything single Catholic when the sex scandals started and how as individuals they chose to deal with it.

And to make such assumptions about how all or some Catholic’s acted concerning the sex abuse scandals on an internet forum which is not representative of the Catholic community worldwide as a whole is not fair in the least.

There is nothing wrong with people feeling righteous anger at this scandal but I do agree the trash receptacle post was NOT appropriate at all.

You have to understand that if you truly believe in what the Catholic Church teaches then it is horrifying to imagine all the souls that are in peril if they are to leave the Catholic Church over the scandal caused by Mr. Cutie.

I will end by saying that *you are loved by your fellow Catholic’s * (my grumpy self included)…so keep strong in the faith and God bless.

well, if there is going to be any scandal in reference to a priest, i would rather it be regarding celibacy other than sex abuse with children. it is too bad that he did not approach his Bishop sooner and try to address his personal conflicts regarding this relationship with this woman.
maybe prayer for father cutie at this time might be better than casting such harsh judgment for a fellow Catholic then.
i had never heard of this priest until the photographs were published and the story hit the front pages and it sort of took on a life of its own. i don’t know if father cutie has a hidden agenda.
i don’t like the way posters are casting stones at the protestant churches in this thread though. Catholics seem to have a way of pointing the finger at the Protestants instead of looking at where the problem might be in their own Church. i don’t mean to be blunt, but i do see a pattern.

 

[redrosetea]

7 sorrows one sin never excuses another nor justifies another…I don’t think you have any clue about the pain and suffering Catholics have endured because of sex scandals in the church…To just dismiss the feelings of the lay people is very unfair

We are all called to holiness and we should be mindful of every sin…Sin harms our relationship with God and damages our relationship with our neighbor…To dismiss all actions, because of what some have done is simply wrong…To give Fr Cutie a pass is not something the church can do…He knew what he was doing, he is not an ignorant child

 

[ron77nyc]

No one here worships the Church, but we believe what she teaches, because God – Who cannot deceive nor be deceived – has revealed it to her.

Mandatory celicacy was not in the original plan for the clergy.

1 Timothy 3:1 A faithful saying: if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher, 3 Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity. 5 But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

It has caused more harm than good. It was made mandatory because the Church was losing property to the families of deceased priests.

 

[redrosetea]

Mandatory celicacy was not in the original plan for the clergy.

1 Timothy 3:1 A faithful saying: if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher, 3 Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity. 5 But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

It has caused more harm than good. It was made mandatory because the Church was losing property to the families of deceased priests.

How do you know what was in the orignal plans , were you there?

Catholics don’t take one random scripture out of the bible to explain anything…We use the entire book plus tradition and the magesterium

 

[japhy]

Mandatory celicacy was not in the original plan for the clergy.

I agree the celibacy is not mandatory – since the Eastern Churches do not require it of their deacons and priests – but it is strongly tied to the ministerial priesthood. Vatican II said a great deal about its benefits and did not change the discipline at all. And changing the discipline will not magically solve the vocation problems we’re experiencing.

It has caused more harm than good. It was made mandatory because the Church was losing property to the families of deceased priests.

That is not the only reason.

Do you think it is easier for a priest to be a priest for his parish and a husband to his wife and a father to his children? Consider what St. Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 7 about being able to devote one’s self fully to the Lord.

 

[DeusVeritas]

well, if there is going to be any scandal in reference to a priest, i would rather it be regarding celibacy other than sex abuse with children. it is too bad that he did not approach his Bishop sooner and try to address his personal conflicts regarding this relationship with this woman.
maybe prayer for father cutie at this time might be better than casting such harsh judgment for a fellow Catholic then.
i had never heard of this priest until the photographs were published and the story hit the front pages and it sort of took on a life of its own. i don’t know if father cutie has a hidden agenda.
i don’t like the way posters are casting stones at the protestant churches in this thread though. Catholics seem to have a way of pointing the finger at the Protestants instead of looking at where the problem might be in their own Church. i don’t mean to be blunt, but i do see a pattern.

Are you actually saying that there should be no scandal concerning a priest publicly breaking his promise of celibacy and making a mockery of the church?** This isn’t a pick and choose faith ** where you can overlook a celibacy scandal and just focus on the sex abuse scandals. We are talking about souls being lost on both accounts.

There are plenty of stones being cast by both Catholic’s and Protestant’s and by saying “Catholic’s seem to have a way of pointing the finger at the Protestants” you are painting with the same brush all your fellow Catholic’s. You look at the plank in your Catholic brother’s eye yet fail to see that there are plenty of Protestants who do the same thing to their Catholic brothers/sisters.

I think you are still too green in the faith and are also judging your fellow Catholic’s with the same judgemental brush as you accuse others of here in this thread.

 

[redrosetea]

I think we should also remember this was done in broad dayligh,t on a public beach in the near vicinity of his parish

His acts were not just a romantic kiss but a lewd act that could have had them arrested…Petting in broad daylight, on a public beach, when any of his parishioners youngsters could have walked in on it is not only sinful, but it could land you in jail

 

[ron77nyc]

How do you know what was in the orignal plans , were you there?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?

Catholics don’t take one random scripture out of the bible to explain anything…We use the entire book plus tradition and the magesterium

The entire book and tradition does not support it either.

 

[redrosetea]

redrosetea;5260512:

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?

The entire book and tradition does not support it either.

It certainly does…Peter was given the power to loose and to bind, and the Keys of the Kingdom, in the name of the church

 

[ron77nyc]

It certainly does…Peter was given the power to loose and to bind, and the Keys of the Kingdom, in the name of the church

Peter never told anyone that they couldn’t get married if they wanted to preach the gospel.

 

[redrosetea]

Peter was given the power to act on behalf of the church by Christ Himself…the pope is St Peters successor…He has the same authority

The Church has always taught this and scripture supports it

 

[Shin]

Mandatory celicacy was not in the original plan for the clergy.

1 Timothy 3:1 A faithful saying: if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher, 3 Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity. 5 But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

You misinterpret this passage if you believe it is a positive promotion of bishops having one wife, rather than a restriction to them having one wife at most while at the same time restricting them even while married to chastity in regards to their duties. Bishops and priests have always been restricted, when even allowed marriage, to at a minimum complete continence while performing their liturgical duties. A minimum.

And if marriage and the clerical state so conflict, it is necessarily understood it is the best discipline that they not coincide.

It has caused more harm than good. It was made mandatory because the Church was losing property to the families of deceased priests.

A calumnious lie, that should not be repeated, only repudiated.

St. Paul, and Tradition show that virginity is superior to marriage. Divine Tradition declares it throughout history along with sacred scripture. One is the greater good, one is the lesser. The discipline of the Church desires that her priests to the greatest extent observe the greater good.

The Council of Elvira demonstrates the proper historical understanding:

It seemed good absolutely to forbid bishops, the priests, and the deacons, i.e. all clerics engaged in service at the altar, to have [sexual] relations with their wives and procreate children; should anyone do so, let me be excluded from the honor of the clergy.

Also St. John Chrysostom, Bishop, Father, and Doctor of the Church:

'When I advise virginity, I pass no censure on marriage. . . for blame is allowed only in reference to a really bad act. But how can it attach to a Christian whose only reproach is, that he confines himself within a more modest sphere, and dares not aim at the highest efforts of virtue? I shall not, indeed, praise the vigor and energy of his courage; but neither shall I cast blame on timid reserve.
Our doctrine. . . proclaims marriage to be good, and virginity better.

. . . Marriage, which is good in itself, leads us to admire virginity, that is better, and outstrips it in dignity as much as the captain and the general are above the common soldier and sailor.’

 

[ron77nyc]

Peter was given the power to act on behalf of the church by Christ Himself…the pope is St Peters successor…He has the same authority

The Church has always taught this and scripture supports it

The Church has not always taught mandatory celibacy and scripture supports a man’s choice. If the first pope did not make it mandatory then all other popes are not following his example.