Padre Alberto
Encyclopedia
Alberto R. Cutié is an Episcopal cleric better known as Padre Alberto. Cutié was ordained a Roman Catholic priest
in 1995 and became an internationally recognizable name by hosting television and radio programs.
Cutié left the Roman Catholic Church
in May 2009 after publication of photographs showing him embracing a woman at the beach, and his subsequent admission of a two-year affair with that woman. Cutié has said that the celibacy vow was one of the theological differences that led him to leave Catholicism for Episcopalianism. After suspension and removal from his parochial duties by the Archdiocese of Miami, Cutie married the woman from the beach, Ruhama Buni Canellis, and joined the Episcopal Church
. Cutie currently engages in pastoral work in an Episcopal parish in Miami; he was received as an Episcopal priest on May 29, 2010. Cutie's talk-show is aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
n exile
s, was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico
. As a teenager he worked as a DJ.
He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
in 1995, the first ordinand of the then-newly designated Archbishop John Clement Favalora (retired 20 April 2010). As "Father Albert", he was the first priest to host a secular talk show both on radio and television. He is also a regular columnist whose writings appear in many Spanish language newspapers throughout the United States
and Latin America
. He gained worldwide recognition with his television
debut in 1999 as the host of Padre Alberto (and later Cambia tu Vida con el Padre Alberto), a daily talk show televised on the Telemundo
network. He later served as host of the weekly program America en Vivo on Telemundo International.
Beginning in 2002, Cutié hosted a weekly talk program called Hablando Claro con el Padre Alberto, reaching millions of households throughout the United States, Canada
, Spain
and Latin America on EWTN Español, which is part of the global network founded by Mother Angelica
. In July 2003 he officiated at Celia Cruz
's funeral mass in Miami.
Cutié also published his first self-help book, Real Life, Real Love (Ama de Verdad, Vive de Verdad) in January 2006. It sold thousands of copies and became a bestseller in the Spanish language market. Cutié's second book, 'Dilemma: A Priest's Struggle with Faith and Love' ('Dilema: La Lucha de un Sacerdote Entre Su Fe y el Amor'), was released on 4 January 2011. The audiobook version in Spanish is being released through Recorded Books, LLC.He has been labelled as "Father Oprah
" by various publications. He served as President and General Director of Radio Paz
and Radio Peace
Catholic 24-hour radio station beginning in January 2001. Padre Alberto hosted several radio programs, such as Al Dia and Linea Directa, and directed the daily operations of Pax Catholic Communications for the Archdiocese of Miami, until the spring of 2009. On April 2, 2009, Cutié was named one of AARP
's new Hispanic Ambassadors.
On January 4, 2011, Father Albert released his new candid memoir, Dilemma. With the release of his new book he has appeared on Good Morning America, The View, Fox and Friends, The Joy Behar Show, as well as, several national Spanish language television programs including Don Francisco Presenta, Despierta America and Al Rojo Vivo. While some claim the book is "harsh" on the Roman Catholic Church, Father Cutie has explained that he did not write it with that intention. He has repeatedly said, "This is not an attack on the Church, but a memoir about my personal experiences for 25 years as a young man discerning, preparing and living in the Roman Catholic priesthood".
In May 11, 2009, Cutié was interviewed by Maggie Rodriguez
of CBS' "The Early Show
". He said that he was thinking about leaving the Roman Catholic Church for a woman he loves. He said that he respected the existing rule of mandatory celibacy in the Latin-rite of the Catholic Church and acknowledged that some Latin-rite priests remain dedicated to that calling. There are many priests in Communion with the Vatican who are married, but they are not members of the Latin-rite. He stated he did not want to become the "anti-celibacy priest".
In May 13, 2009, Cutié was interviewed by Teresa Rodríguez on the Univision
show Aqui y Ahora. Cutie said: "I do regret if my actions hurt people with all my heart", adding "[t]here are other ways to serve God. I am not the same man I was when I entered the seminary 22 years ago." By the end of the month Cutié announced that he had been in the process of discerning entering The Episcopal Church for the last couple of years, which in turn helped him consolidate marriage and his calling to serve God.
In July 11, 2011, Cutié aired his first English-speaking syndicated daytime talk show, Father Albert. The show is produced by Debmar-Mercury, the same company that syndicates South Park. In the show, Cutie maintains his position to allow priests to publicly marry as an option as opposed to the vow of celibacy traditionally required by the Roman Catholic Church
.
, and became the administrator and pastoral minister of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Biscayne Park, Miami, where he was licensed as a pastoral assistant. He was subsequently received as an Episcopal priest and instituted as priest-in-charge of the parish on May 29, 2010.
On June 26, 2009, Cutié and Ruhama Buni Canellis married in a church ceremony at St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church
in North Miami Beach. Bishop Frade officiated, assisted by the Rt. Rev. Onell Soto
(retired Episcopal Bishop of Venezuela) and several other Episcopal clergy.
Cutié is presently serving as the Priest-in-Charge at the Church of the Resurrection in Biscayne Park, Florida
. On November 30, 2010, Mrs. Cutie gave birth to the couple's first child, daughter Camila Victoria Cutié, and with her husband they are also the parents of Christian Norton, from her first marriage.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1995 and became an internationally recognizable name by hosting television and radio programs.
Cutié left the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in May 2009 after publication of photographs showing him embracing a woman at the beach, and his subsequent admission of a two-year affair with that woman. Cutié has said that the celibacy vow was one of the theological differences that led him to leave Catholicism for Episcopalianism. After suspension and removal from his parochial duties by the Archdiocese of Miami, Cutie married the woman from the beach, Ruhama Buni Canellis, and joined the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
. Cutie currently engages in pastoral work in an Episcopal parish in Miami; he was received as an Episcopal priest on May 29, 2010. Cutie's talk-show is aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
Media appearances
Cutié, the middle child and only son of CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
s, was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. As a teenager he worked as a DJ.
He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
The Archdiocese of Miami is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America. Its ecclesiastic territory includes Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties in the U.S. state of Florida. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami,...
in 1995, the first ordinand of the then-newly designated Archbishop John Clement Favalora (retired 20 April 2010). As "Father Albert", he was the first priest to host a secular talk show both on radio and television. He is also a regular columnist whose writings appear in many Spanish language newspapers throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. He gained worldwide recognition with his television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
debut in 1999 as the host of Padre Alberto (and later Cambia tu Vida con el Padre Alberto), a daily talk show televised on the Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
network. He later served as host of the weekly program America en Vivo on Telemundo International.
Beginning in 2002, Cutié hosted a weekly talk program called Hablando Claro con el Padre Alberto, reaching millions of households throughout the United States, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Latin America on EWTN Español, which is part of the global network founded by Mother Angelica
Mother Angelica
Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA is an American Roman Catholic nun who founded the Eternal Word Television Network. In 1944 she entered the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, a Franciscan religious order for women, as a postulant, and a year later she was admitted to the order as a...
. In July 2003 he officiated at Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
's funeral mass in Miami.
Cutié also published his first self-help book, Real Life, Real Love (Ama de Verdad, Vive de Verdad) in January 2006. It sold thousands of copies and became a bestseller in the Spanish language market. Cutié's second book, 'Dilemma: A Priest's Struggle with Faith and Love' ('Dilema: La Lucha de un Sacerdote Entre Su Fe y el Amor'), was released on 4 January 2011. The audiobook version in Spanish is being released through Recorded Books, LLC.He has been labelled as "Father Oprah
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
" by various publications. He served as President and General Director of Radio Paz
Radio Paz
Radio Paz is the Spanish language sister station, of the 24 hour Catholic radio station Radio Peace. It is directed by Padre Alberto as well. It can be heard on Radio Paz 830 AM and around the world though their site -External links:*...
and Radio Peace
Radio Peace
Radio Peace is the English version of the radio ministry of the Archdiocese of Miami. It is also the sister station of Radio Paz the Spanish version. Radio Peace is broadcast throughout most of South Florida through WLVJ 1040 AM, as well as over the Internet. Radio Peace and Radio Paz are both 24...
Catholic 24-hour radio station beginning in January 2001. Padre Alberto hosted several radio programs, such as Al Dia and Linea Directa, and directed the daily operations of Pax Catholic Communications for the Archdiocese of Miami, until the spring of 2009. On April 2, 2009, Cutié was named one of AARP
AARP
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is the United States-based non-governmental organization and interest group, founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, PhD, a retired educator from California, and based in Washington, D.C. According to its mission statement, it is "a...
's new Hispanic Ambassadors.
On January 4, 2011, Father Albert released his new candid memoir, Dilemma. With the release of his new book he has appeared on Good Morning America, The View, Fox and Friends, The Joy Behar Show, as well as, several national Spanish language television programs including Don Francisco Presenta, Despierta America and Al Rojo Vivo. While some claim the book is "harsh" on the Roman Catholic Church, Father Cutie has explained that he did not write it with that intention. He has repeatedly said, "This is not an attack on the Church, but a memoir about my personal experiences for 25 years as a young man discerning, preparing and living in the Roman Catholic priesthood".
Personal life
In May 5, 2009, Cutié asked church officials for a time of reflection and a leave of absence from his media programs and pastoral work after publication of pictures in which Albert Cutié was shown kissing Ruhama Buni Canellis at a public beach. As a result, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami removed Cutie from his parochial duties from the diocese on the grounds of violating his vow of priestly celibacy. Later on, Cutie chose to continue his ministry as a married Episcopalian priest. Cutié asked the Archdiocese of Miami for some time to think and make a decision on where his life as a continuing priest was heading.In May 11, 2009, Cutié was interviewed by Maggie Rodriguez
Maggie Rodriguez
Margarita Dania Rodriguez is a former co-anchor of the CBS television program, The Early Show, from December 2007 through December 2010. Rodriguez was also a substitute anchor for Katie Couric on The CBS Evening News. Rodriguez was formerly co-anchor of the Saturday edition of The Early Show in 2007...
of CBS' "The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
". He said that he was thinking about leaving the Roman Catholic Church for a woman he loves. He said that he respected the existing rule of mandatory celibacy in the Latin-rite of the Catholic Church and acknowledged that some Latin-rite priests remain dedicated to that calling. There are many priests in Communion with the Vatican who are married, but they are not members of the Latin-rite. He stated he did not want to become the "anti-celibacy priest".
In May 13, 2009, Cutié was interviewed by Teresa Rodríguez on the Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
show Aqui y Ahora. Cutie said: "I do regret if my actions hurt people with all my heart", adding "[t]here are other ways to serve God. I am not the same man I was when I entered the seminary 22 years ago." By the end of the month Cutié announced that he had been in the process of discerning entering The Episcopal Church for the last couple of years, which in turn helped him consolidate marriage and his calling to serve God.
In July 11, 2011, Cutié aired his first English-speaking syndicated daytime talk show, Father Albert. The show is produced by Debmar-Mercury, the same company that syndicates South Park. In the show, Cutie maintains his position to allow priests to publicly marry as an option as opposed to the vow of celibacy traditionally required by the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Reception into the Episcopal Church and Marriage
Father Alberto Cutié was received into the Episcopal Church on May 28, 2009, by the Rt. Rev. Leo Frade, the Cuban-born bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast FloridaEpiscopal Diocese of Southeast Florida
The Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America which extends from Key West on the south, to Jensen Beach on the north and inland to Clewiston on the west. Major cities in the diocese are Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach...
, and became the administrator and pastoral minister of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Biscayne Park, Miami, where he was licensed as a pastoral assistant. He was subsequently received as an Episcopal priest and instituted as priest-in-charge of the parish on May 29, 2010.
On June 26, 2009, Cutié and Ruhama Buni Canellis married in a church ceremony at St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church
St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church
St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church is a medieval Spanish monastery cloister which was built in the town of Sacramenia in Segovia, Spain, in the 12th century but dismantled in the 20th century and shipped to New York in the United States. It was eventually reassembled in North Miami Beach, Florida,...
in North Miami Beach. Bishop Frade officiated, assisted by the Rt. Rev. Onell Soto
Onell Soto
Onell A. Soto is a retired Episcopal Bishop residing in Miami, Florida. Prior to his retirement in 2002 he was appointed by the Rt. Rev. Henry N. Parsley to serve as Assistant Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, beginning on August 1....
(retired Episcopal Bishop of Venezuela) and several other Episcopal clergy.
Cutié is presently serving as the Priest-in-Charge at the Church of the Resurrection in Biscayne Park, Florida
Biscayne Park, Florida
Biscayne Park is a village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,269 at the 2000 census. Biscayne Park was developed in the 1920's by Arthur Griffing. The area was annexed by the city of Miami in 1925 but with the arrival of the Great Depression Miami gave up...
. On November 30, 2010, Mrs. Cutie gave birth to the couple's first child, daughter Camila Victoria Cutié, and with her husband they are also the parents of Christian Norton, from her first marriage.
External links
- Official website
- Church of the Resurrection official website
- Alberto Cutie on the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Padre Alberto on the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...