[r9etb]

While we cannot know the man's heart, it does indeed appear that Rev. Cutié chose his girlfriend over his faith.

I'd say that's more than a little simplistic.

St. Paul knew the score 2000 years ago: To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. (1 Cor. 7:8-9)

Celibacy is unnatural. It's a fine discipline for those so-called, but it is not natural, and it not healthy for most of us.

Rev. Cutié may have thought he had enough self-control when he entered the priesthood, and he ended up not having it. That does not mean that he has abandoned his faith, however.

[FreedomFerret]

I agree entirely. He realized he could no longer play by the rules of the priesthood, and he bowed out. There is no shame there, it is not an easy path many of us could follow. I know I cound’t. I won’t fault the man for having the desires of a man.

[marshmallow]

I don't believe St. Paul's admonition was directed to those who had already taken a solemn vow to remain celibate. Rather, he is instructing Christians not to enter lightly into the celibate state. Thus, if there are any doubts about self-control, they should marry. He is not counseling Christians to break their vows.

Celibacy is a discipline, as you rightly note. A difficult one. However, thousands of holy men and women have given witness to its value and glory to God for over two thousand years. John Paul II, of happy memory, called it "the brightest jewel of our priesthood" for indeed that is what is is and the saints and martyrs have died rather than abandon it.

Today's world sees it as ridiculous but it is a poor judge. The world of unrestrained sexuality finds it impossible to understand.

[A.A. Cunningham]

That does not mean that he has abandoned his faith, however.

Incorrect. Cutie is thinking with the wrong head and in doing so has abandoned his faith for a bimbo. He's nothing but a con artist who'll most likely end up getting screwed over by his fornication partner.

[red irish]

Life is a challenge. Many people in different circumstances are in the situation of being celibate. We have become a country where are sexuality is the core of our being. A spouse who has a sick husband or wife may have to become celibate. But that person could also live up to their vows to God and care for their spouse. Men and women who are married to people in the military have to go some time without sex due to going away for combat or service to another country. Should these people because of their situation,since they cannot contain themselves go and have sex elsewhere? I know of a woman who is disable and her husband has been loving and faithful but for reason that of course are private they can’t be intimate. Men who are in wheelchairs and have or who are impotent,what should their wives do? Leave them,have affairs? The priest broke his sacred vows to his God and his faith,it takes a long time to become a priest. And he has been having an affair for a long time.What action did he take to draw away from the occasion of sin? But not only does he breaks his vow but then leaves his church.And now this woman is going to trust him? I think this woman had better be sure she wants this man above all else because if something happens,accident or sickness overtakes her,will he be loyal? I would run,run,run.

[PapaBear3625]

Rev. Cutié may have thought he had enough self-control when he entered the priesthood, and he ended up not having it. That does not mean that he has abandoned his faith, however.

The correct sequence would have been for him to leave the priesthood first, and then get a girl and marry.

[Marysecretary]

No, I don’t think he’s abandoned his faith either. What a choice for a man to have to make, but he can serve God as a married man perhaps even better than a celibate priest.

[AliVeritas]

Yep, IF you can’t exercise self-control.

Care to post 1 Cor 7:7 and 32-35?

Matthew 19:12

For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

From SOT:

A day in the life of a Married Priest

Mr. Priest: Honey, I’m home.

Mrs. Priest: So how was your day at the office?

Mr. Priest: Busy as usual and I spent about five hours hearing confessions.

Mrs. Priest: Really, tell my some of the juicy bits.

Mr. Priest: We have gone over this before. You know I can’t reveal what I heard in confession.

Mrs. Priest: I don’t like you keeping secrets from me. It’s not good for a healthy relationship. You know you can trust me to not tell anybody else.

Mr. Priest: Revealing what goes on in confession leads to an automatic excommunication. St. John Nepomucen was killed because he would not reveal the queens confession.

Mrs. Priest: Well if you don’t tell me anything, then your next. Well, never-mind. Don’t forget that little Jimmy has his soccer game at ten tomorrow.

Mr. Priest: Ten? You know I will be saying Mass then.

Mrs. Priest: Your work is always interfering with our family. You spend way too much time there and you are so full of excuses You need to reevaluate your priorities and put our family first.

Mr. Priest: Being a priest is not just a nine to five job. After the Vatican approved optional celibacy and we got married, I told you that it would be a rough life and full of sacrifice. Remember that the Bible says You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Mrs. Priest: Well I am sure that Mrs. Melchizedek had a couple things to say to her husband also. Going around and offering heads of tribes a sacrifice of bread and wine instead of taking the garbage out. Which reminds me, you need to take the garbage out.

Mr. Priest: I will as soon as I am done praying evening prayer.

Mrs. Priest: It is always something. Prayer, rosaries, retreats, picketing abortion clinics, marrying people, baptism, et cetera, et cetera. Maybe one day you will be holy enough that you can levitate the garbage outside. You would think that you are married to the Church or something.

Mr. Priest: As a priest I am responsible for the souls in my parish. It is a heavy responsibility and it is difficult to balance the parish life and the family life.

Mrs. Priest: Another thing comes to mind. Could you get people to stop calling you Father? Little Susy keeps wondering just how many brothers and sisters she has in this city.

Mr. Priest: I am a spiritual father just as St. Paul called some of his converts children.

Mrs. Priest: Your no St. Paul and just look at all the hours you spend at work and look at your pitiful salary. Do you think that we can afford college and a mortgage? Monthly bills like Life and Martyrs Insurance have to be paid. Tomorrow I want you to march right down and tell your boss that you need a raise.

Mr. Priest: But honey, I just can’t walk up to the Bishop and demand a raise. It just isn’t done.

Mrs. Priest: I should have been suspicious when I found out that Bishop meant overseer. Those bad aliens in Alien Nation were also called overseers. With their fancy robes, colored socks, and mitre they forget about their workers. What is ever more unfair is that they won’t advance married priests to the episcopacy. Just because the Orthodox have maintained a similar tradition since the beginning is no reason for us to copy it. It is just not fair that there is a stained glass ceiling for married priests. I could picture myself as Mrs. Pope. Though we would need to update the Pope Mobile so that it could fit our family. A papal SUV or family van would be more fitting.

Phone Rings...

Mr. Priest: That was the parish secretary. I need to go to St. Luke’s Hospital to hear a dying man’s confession.

Mrs. Priest: I know, anything to get out of taking out the garbage.

LOL

I’ll send you a few stories from the past later in your mail... at least I warned you of coming boredom.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“Celibacy is unnatural.”

So Christ made an unnatural choice when He chose celibacy?

“It’s a fine discipline for those so-called, but it is not natural, and it not healthy for most of us.”

How could it be unnatural for those who are called to it? And don’t ALL people practice celibacy at times in their lives? Not everyone marries as soon as they hit puberty. Many people end up as the sole surviving spouse. Is that an unnatural life too?

“Rev. Cutié may have thought he had enough self-control when he entered the priesthood, and he ended up not having it.”

No. This is not about self control. This is about honesty even before that. There is no way this man went from celibate and in control to suddenly making out on a beach in broad day light in front of a photographer. Nope. This man CHOSE to put himself in multiple situations where he KNEW he would be tempted, KNEW he would be with a woman who he KNOW was more than happy to help him violate his vows and he pretended to be a moral man and preached - hypocritically - morals to others.

He’s a hypocrital fraud. He was terribly dishonest - with his flock, with his Church, and with himself.

“That does not mean that he has abandoned his faith, however.”

Oh, yes, it does. He left behind what he openly extolled and openly professed to believe in. He didn’t trade up to something more true. He merely abandoned his vows, his flock, his church and his own previous principles.

[hinckley buzzard]

No, but he should at least have been honest about it and respected his vows either by keeping them or renouncing them voluntarily, rather than under duress of exposure to the public eye.