Father Albert Cutié served as a Roman Catholic priest from his ordination in 1995 until 2009. During those years he served several parishes, but was best known for his work in media, which earned him the nickname “Padre Oprah.” He was the first clergy-person to host a daily talk-show on a major network on international secular television.
After his relationship with a woman was made public, he left the Roman Catholic church, married, and was ordained as an Episcopal priest. Since 2010, he has served as Priest-in-Charge at The Church of the Resurrection in Biscayne Park, FL.
Cutié is the author of two books: Real Life, Real Love: 7 Paths to a Strong and Lasting Relationship (2006) and Dilemma: A Priest’s Struggle with Faith and Love (2011). Additionally, he is the host of a new television talk show: Father Albert, which first aired in July, 2011.
Book Basics
Dilemma: A Priest’s Struggle with Faith and Love is an autobiographical account of the first 41 years of the life and faith of Albert Cutié. Cutié is the middle child, and only son, of Cuban exiles who was born in Puerto Rico then moved to Miami at age six. Called to the priesthood at age 16, he began his academic preparation immediately after completing high school. After eight years of academic preparation, Cutié entered a world that required him to rethink much of what he had learned and took for granted. During his 14 years as an ordained priest in the Roman Catholic tradition he was geographically stable (serving multiple parishes in FL) but theologically always in motion (and generally moving away from what was institutionally deemed proper and toward a more progressive position).
His extensive work in media, especially his radio and television programs, earned him the nickname “Padre/Father Oprah.” Ultimately his celebrity-like status was his downfall when someone captured video footage of him with his girlfriend on a beach and released it to the media. His awareness that he no longer fit theologically and that he longed to marry led him from the Roman Catholic church into the Anglican church where, after a year long process, his ordination was affirmed and he was able to begin anew in parish ministry.
While the book is autobiographical it is as much the story of the failures of the Catholic church (as experienced by one person) as it is the growth of Cutié. Readers will be exposed to numerous priests, including those who had risen to positions of considerable influence, who lived in ways that were devious, dishonest and that directly violated their vow of celibacy (in many different ways). While Cutié loves the church and believes he loves the Roman Catholic church, he loves the latter only inasmuch as he hopes it can be reformed to be closer to something like what he envisions as ideal than the wayward institution he believes it has become. He champions ending the vow of celibacy, and calls for much deeper reform.
So What?
Cutié tells a story that needs to be heard. May those with ears, hear.
Hypocrisy among clergy is not limited to the Catholic church nor is a tendency to place institutional maintenance above a missional love for all of the people of God. While no Protestant denomination is as large nor has the same polity as the Catholic tradition, most are facing similar crises.
- Into what religious tradition were you born?
- If you are a lifelong adherent, how has your view of the tradition changed over the years?
- If you left that tradition, what led you to do so and how has your view of it shifted in the time since you departed?
- In what ways do you find your current faith tradition/denomination is ill equipped for the 21st century? What types of reform movements are seeking to address these shortcomings?
- Do you believe that there is a role for highly structured traditions/denominations in postmodernity or do you believe that all such entities will dissolve or morph into something less structured during this era? What informs your response?
Father Albert Cutié. Dilemma: A Priest’s Struggle with Faith and Love (Celebra, 2011). ISBN: 9780451232014.