"Sins of the Father"

That title is yet another of the countless examples that proves Channel 7 (WSVN) News are not really a news station; rather they are just another entertainment show. That title was used to introduce their lead story earlier this week about Father Alberto Cutié caught at Miami Beach with some woman. Since when was that sin? What he did was break a Church law - a man-made law. He did not sin.

Anyways, I feel that while one needs to stand his/her ground in order to be taken seriously, it is just as important to confess when a person feels that he/she has been proven to think and believe in a different way. The other day I blogged about Father Alberto's situation, and how I believe that clerical celibacy should remain a requirement. I have been convinced, through the comments people left on that blog, the things I was told at my small group last night (May 8th), and the front page story of the Miami Herald on May 9th that perhaps the Church should reconsider its position.

I finally found out why the celibacy requirement was instituted back in the Middle Ages (or perhaps even earlier as I have read recently). It has a lot to do with the corruption that was going on back then. A lot of priests and bishops who had sons were smuggling money out of the church's hands in order to give it to their sons. It's a little more complicated than that, but the Church decided to impose the restriction on families. While the church tried to do right, there times, such as with Father Alberto, where the ecclesiastic law - not doctrine - fails.

I realized that perhaps Father Alberto is not an idiot after all (like I mentioned on my last blog) because it would really be crazy to go to Miami Beach in public like that unless... ...you actually wanted to get caught and open up this can of worms. Here comes the gossip that I've heard! One of my small group leader's cousins knows the family of Father Alberto. And apparently, he had asked to be relieved of his clerical duties months ago (because he fell in love), but Archbishop John Favarola did not grant him that for reasons unknown (probably public perception).

But perhaps our Protestant brothers and sister have it right...in fact, it's probably not even a "perhaps" situation. Maybe clerical celibacy needs to be a choice, rather than a requirement. We would have a lot more EFFECTIVE priests if this ban was lifted, simply because many devout and charismatic Christians are frightened off from the priesthood simply because of the ban on marriage and family. While I am still under the belief that it's better to remain celibate when ordained, it should be a choice.

Now, all these people protesting at the steps of St. Francis Catholic Church are doing good by showing their support for Father Alberto. However, they must remember that he is just a man. You cannot follow a man, because when you die, you will not be facing Alberto Cutié. You will be facing the LORD.

Father Alberto has simply brought this question to light. Is the Catholic Church going to take a step back and try to re-examine itself, or is it going to allow itself to become easily distracted when a case like this happens instead of focusing on growing in faith and being of service to others?

I feel Pope Benedict XVI has done a really good job so far...hopefully that trend continues.