A Catholic priest in Miami was caught breaking his vow of celibacy. As a result, he promptly apologized, repented, and went back to honoring his vow.
Just kidding. He decided that vows mean nothing and decided to go to a church that would be more accepting of his newly found “lifestyle”. Details:
A popular U.S. Roman Catholic priest photographed frolicking with a woman on a Florida beach announced on Thursday he had joined the Episcopal Church to pursue the priesthood in a faith that allows married clergy.
“I’ve seen with my own eyes how many brothers of mine serve God as married men and with the blessing of having their own families,” said Father Alberto Cutie, whose removal from his Miami Beach parish prompted public debate about the Catholic Church’s celibacy requirement for priests. …
Let me get a couple of things out of the way here.
First of all, there is nothing in the Bible that says God expects clergy to remain unmarried. Why the Catholic church deems otherwise is beyond me. However, it’s no secret that this is indeed the Church’s position. If you think you may want to serve God AND be a husband and a father, then you do not become a Catholic priest. “Yes, but what if you change your mind when you get older?” Then don’t make a vow before God that says you commit your life to remain celibate! We have enough people in this country who profess to be Christian who routinely, without batting an eyelash, break vows before God. We sure as heck don’t need a man of the cloth doing that! “Hey, sorry about breaking that promise to you, God! Them’s the breaks, though, right? Maybe I’ll do better next time…maybe.”
Secondly, why would the Episcopalian church accept a minister who clearly has no regard for vows made before God? Then again, this Church has already demonstrated that it doesn’t always hold God’s word in the highest regard, as evidenced by its ordaining of an openly and practicing homosexual minister.
We all sin. We all stumble. Heck, I do every day, and I ask God’s forgiveness when I do. But when you stumble and sin, you repent…which means you turn from your sin. This “minister” is not turning from his sin of breaking his vow before God…he’s running full speed with zeal into the arms of the sin. May God have mercy on him, as may He have mercy on us all.
