Celebrity priest raised questions about celibacy before scandal

MIAMI -

That question, and the issue of clergy celibacy, was among many posed in the wake of the scandal triggered by a Mexican magazine's publication of 25 photos of Father Alberto, as he is called, in the throes of rapture more carnal than spiritual.

"For the human point of view, I can understand temptation," said Florida International University sociology professor Uva de Aragon, a Cuban-American Catholic who has known Cutié for years.

"Frankly, this was not very smart, flouting what you are doing. Did he want to get caught?"

His parish was in the heart of South Beach, he socialized with celebrities, and his books and television appearances made him one of the nation's most prominent Catholics, especially among Latinos.

Even his detractors -- if he had any -- would agree he is blessed with matinee-idol looks.

So did any of those factors contribute to the reckless behavior with a woman on a beach that brought down the Rev. Alberto Cutié this week?

Caught he was. Shortly after the photos' publication in TVnotas, the Archdiocese of Miami announced Tuesday that Cutié, 40, would be suspended from the pulpit at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, and that he would no longer host a show on Pax Catholic Communications.

"Father Cutié made a promise of celibacy and all priests are expected to fulfill that promise with the help of God," read a statement from Archbishop John C. Favalora. "Father Cutié's actions cannot be condoned, despite the good works he has done as a priest."

Father Cutié wrote an e-mail apology, 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 apparently brazen nature of Cutié's actions, and his precipitous fall from grace, prompted discussions on the role of celibacy in the Catholic church, a subject Cutié himself had raised.

"I don't think it's so much an issue of celibacy as one man's bad decisions," said Waren, whose school is run by the Archdiocese of Miami. "People make vows. People make mistakes. People get hurt."

Born in Puerto Rico to Cuban parents, Cutié grew up in Miami's Kendall area and graduated from Southwest High School in 1987. He entered the priesthood at 18.

Cutié gained national prominence in 1999 when he was chosen from among 500 candidates to head an inspirational show on Spanish-language Telemundo network. He has written a best-selling book and a syndicated advice column, and been dubbed "Father Oprah" by Newsweek.

Charismatic and bilingual, Father Alberto is on a first-name basis with celebrities such asGloria Estefan, Andy Garcia, Willy Chirino and Shakira, and he often presides over high-profile ceremonies in Miami's Cuban community. Last year, for example, he conducted funerals for media mogul Pablo Raul Alarcon Sr. and music legend Israel "Cachao" Lopez.

" I'm the priest for the lost sheep. Which is why I do the media thing and the press thing and the book thing. I'm not the priest for the regular Catholic crowd," he told Hispanic magazine in 2007. "I made that decision a long time ago."