Love Thy Neighbor

An item in the news today informs us that the celebrated and photogenic Catholic priest known as “Father Oprah” (whose actual name is — you just can’t make this stuff up — the Rev. Alberto Cutie) has admitted having had an affair of the flesh. This is always awkward for Catholic clergymen, and has put Father Cutie in a bit of a cleft stick. We read:

The priest said he believes in celibacy but thinks it should be optional. He said he had never had a sexual relationship with anyone other than the woman since leaving the seminary 15 years ago.

“I don’t support the breaking of the celibacy promise,” Cutie said. “I understand fully that this is wrong.

“I don’t want to be the anti-celibacy priest. I think that’s unfortunate,” he said. “I think it’s a debate that’s going on in our society, and now I’ve become kind of a poster boy for it. But I don’t want to be that. I believe that celibacy is good, and that it’s a good commitment to God. This is something I’ve struggled with. And something that I never expected to become a public debate.

There will of course be the usual jeering about hypocrisy, but before flinging any tomatoes of their own, readers might like to have a look at philosopher William Vallicella’s insightful musings on the subject. Here.

2 Comments

  1. Addofio says

    Just reading a bit between the lines here–does this mean you hate the left more than you hate religion?

    (Tongue slightly in cheek here–but only slightly :-)

    Posted May 12, 2009 at 10:31 am | Permalink
  2. Malcolm says

    Geez, Addofio, it pains me that you would see me that way. I don’t hate anyone.

    All I do is to enter into the public record, from time to time, expressions of mild disapproval and helpful criticism in the interest of making the world a better place for all.

    Posted May 12, 2009 at 11:12 am | Permalink

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