Miami priest leaves Catholic Church to wed girlfriend

The Rev. Alberto Cutie, and his girlfriend Ruhama Buni Canellis, left. Photo by AP.
The Rev. Alberto Cutie, and his girlfriend Ruhama Buni Canellis, left. Photo by AP.
A telegenic Miami priest who left the Catholic Church amid an uproar over published photos of him kissing his girlfriend on the beach has married the woman.

Miami-Dade County court records show the Rev. Alberto Cutie married Ruhama Canellis on Tuesday in Coral Gables.

Cutie left the Catholic Church last month for the Episcopal Church - the US branch of the Anglican Communication - after the controversial photos surfaced. He has said he was romantically involved with Canellis for about two years.

Amid the scandal, Cutie was removed from his South Beach church, protesters marched to support him, and he departed from Catholicism to become an Episcopal priest.

Cutie, 40, did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment. Last month, in an interview with CBS, he said, "I believe that I've fallen in love and I believe that I've struggled with that, between my love for God, and my love for the church and my love for service."

Canellis, 35, met Cutie in church. The priest said they were friends for years before becoming romantically involved. An e-mail to Canellis prompted an automatic reply that said the account was not being checked but to "keep us in your prayers."

Cutie remains, technically at least, a Catholic priest, though the Miami archdiocese has barred him from celebrating Mass, providing the sacraments or preaching. Only the Vatican can fully remove him from the priesthood.

The Catholic archdiocese declined to comment on the marriage. A message left with a spokeswoman at the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida was not immediately returned. Cutie gave his first sermon before Episcopalians last month, but must meet other requirements before becoming a full-fledged Episcopal priest.

Even before the scandal erupted, Cutie's face and voice were known to many for radio and TV broadcasts beamed throughout the Americas and in Spain. He was widely known as a relationship expert, even referred to as "Father Oprah," and he authored a book titled Real Life, Real Love: 7 Paths to a Strong, Lasting Relationship.