Priest who broke celibacy vow joins Episcopal Church

Father Alberto Cutie admitted having a two-year affair with a woman.
Father Alberto Cutie, an internationally known Catholic priest who admitted having a romantic affair and breaking his vow of celibacy, is joining the Episcopal Church to be with the woman he loves.

Cutie (pronounced koo-tee-AY) will pursue the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida said in a written statement. It was not immediately clear how long the process would take. Cutie is sometimes called “Father Oprah” because of the advice he’s given in Spanish-language media. He shocked the Catholic community when photographs of him embracing a bathing-suit-clad woman emerged this month. Cutie admitted having a two-year relationship with the woman.

She has not been publicly identified. “I thank God for the many people in our community who have shown me their love and support,” Cutie said, according to the Episcopal diocese’s statement. “With God’s help, I hope to continue priestly ministry and service in my new spiritual home.”

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