Father Alberto Cutié (CNS)

Father Alberto Cutié, the prominent Miami priest who was removed from active ministry because of public disclosure of scandalous conduct with a woman, has become an Episcopalian.

“Cutie (pronounced koo-tee-AY) was received into the Episcopal Church earlier Thursday at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Miami, Florida. He will pursue the priesthood in the Episcopalian faith, the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida said in a written statement,” CNN reported.

Father Cutié has already been granted faculties as a lay minister by Episcopal Bishop Leo Frade of Southeast Florida and is scheduled to preach a sermon on Sunday at an Episcopal parish in South Florida.

The haste with which Father Cutié deserted the Church — only three weeks after he requested and was granted a leave from the exercise of ministry at a May 5 meeting with Archbishop John Favalora of Miami — suggests the priest’s lack of fidelity to Church teachings extended substantially beyond his failure to behave in accordance with his vow of celibacy.

After all, the fact that Episcopalians allow married priests is hardly the only significant difference between the Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church.

“Father Cutié‘s actions have caused grave scandal within the Catholic Church, harmed the Archdiocese of Miami — especially our priests — and led to division within the ecumenical community and the community at large,” Archbishop Favalora said in a statement posted here at the archdiocesan website. “Today’s announcement only deepens those wounds.”

Archbishop Favalora said Father Cutié did not inform him beforehand of his plan to join the Episcopal Church, or even that he was considering doing so.

The alacrity with which the Episcopal Church received the disgraced Catholic priest as a member is also disturbing to Catholics.

Archbishop Favolara said in his statement that Bishop Frade “has never spoken to me about his position on this delicate matter or what actions he was contemplating.  I have only heard from him through the local media.”

Said Archbishop Favalora, “This truly is a serious setback for ecumenical relations and cooperation between us.”