A Mexican magazine ran pictures of Father Cutie cuddling with a woman on a Florida beach and kissing her at a bar. In an interview with the Spanish language network Univision, Father Cutie said that despite the scandal the photos have created, he doesn't want to give up either his collar or the woman he loves. He told Univision, he loves the woman and has liked her since he met her. After the photos appeared, the Archdiocese of Miami immediately removed him from his duties as a priest at St. Frances de Sales church in Miami Beach. This past Sunday marked the first time his parish held mass without him.
The scandal is surely reigniting the long-running debate over priest celibacy. Critics, including some priests, argue that celibacy is at the heart of the church's problems, including the shortage of priests and the sex abuse scandals and I for one have to agree. Truth be told, I think the Catholic Church seems to have even bigger issues at the forefront to handle that they've for decades just been sweeping under the rug. However, The Vatican has never wavered on the issue and most active priests agree with its stance.
I am not Catholic so I don't presume to understand the reasoning or logic behind celibacy. After doing some reading, it seems to be that Catholics see it as a true commitment to God, being "the bride of Christ" so to speak. Additionally those who support this stance seem to feel that it makes you wholly available for people and for ministry and for what you really believe, where if you were married with kids, you could not be as available.
Can't the two things co-exist? Can't you be wholly committed to and love God and have romantic love and family in your life? I don't know about you but it just seems unnatural to insist that human beings be required to resist the urge to find love and passion with other people. It's the way the world pro-creates. It's the way we find happiness.
Regardless, the Cutié scandal is sure to ratchet up debate over clerical celibacy in the Catholic Church, a spiritual ideal that seems to collide more often today with biological reality. I'm a die-hard romantic and I'm a Christian, so this is a tough one for me to call. Maybe it's just time for a change......
7 comments:
I think it's time for a change. It just seems crazy that one of the first things God said to man was multiply, then the Catholic Church added unless you happen to be a priest.
I agree, it is time for a change. In fact, it's just not natural. I hope the Catholic church takes heed an allow their priest to marry and have children. It's just the right thing to do!
Ok, I'll be the one to go ahead and say it: The Catholic church is simply the world's largest cult. Yeah, I said it. Prayin' to saints and Mary and all that other heretical, manufactured nonsense. The Bible clearly states that a pastor/priest should be the husband to one wife. HELLO!
Being a celibate aint easy
all the things youd miss
but
people and the media need to loosen up on Cutie.(i wish that was my name)
A priest is definitely better than the average man.
We all have needs and it is in our nature to want to be sexually active with another human being; everyone should be doing "it", but of course doing "it" requires a level of responsibility.
My business partner is Catholic and gripes about the fact that priests can't get busy and being raised a Jehovah's Witness, I can understand and respect the principles of abstinence, but celibacy in the name of the priesthood is something I don't believe God wanted, but who can truly speak for the Almighty.
See, Marcus, that's just it, man. At least in this instance, we don't even have to try to speak for The Almighty. I Timothy makes it very plain. (And in the Old Testament it prescribes that a priest should marry a virgin who is not profane, divorced, etc.)
So let the men of the cloth get busy! With their wives! But not all together. You know what I mean.
Seems as if we are all of the same opinion that it's about time for a change in the Catholic Church. 'Nupe you made no bones about your opinion, lol.
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