I voluntarily took a break from what some have called Catholic-bashing.

The Pope is perambulating in the Middle East and you did not hear a word from me. I simply let the Jews and the Christians and the Muslims kick his butt.

And then, this cute priest named Rev. Alberto Cutie decided to show the lovey-dovey with his girlfriend to the world. When the picture of the Rev and his lover on the beach was published, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I thought the girl could be a groupie who just saw a single man by the beach and decided to hang with him not knowing he was a man of God. After all, it happens to me everyday.

And then, he confessed. He said it was a deeper relationship that had been going on for long. Ee-yah. Poor Rev. He reassured us that they only started having sex recently. Hum.

How daring of him to pick one of the cute girls. Nobody would have had any fuss if he was seen with Rosanne Barr or Rosie O’Donnell. And of all places to chose to soak the sun, Florida? That was crazy. Did he know how many of us, hard working regular people, wished we had such a luxury and such a luck? Well, even for a Rev., love turns all men insane.

Rev. Cutie lost his parish as a result. He was also removed from his radio shows on Catholic networks. The Rev. who has been called “Father Oprah” accepted responsibility for his actions. But it must not end at that.

Hear him: “I don’t want to be the anti-celibacy priest. I think that’s unfortunate. 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.”

Who asked him to rationalize? This is not a debate about frolicking and defrocking. It is much more than that.

First and foremost, Rev. Cutie, by faulting it in the open has spoilt one of the hidden benefits of being a priest for others. And that should be considered a crime in the world of Catholic priests. Many of them must be swearing at him for exposing their little secret.

Rev. Cutie told CBS that he is in love with the woman. Ohooooooo. That was so sweet.

He also said that he has two options -walk away from his priesthood to marry her or just dump her and remain a priest.

Now that irks me.

Who told this man that he can taste the forbidden fruit and still remain a man of the robes? He has been having sex with this woman for two years and now he thinks he can just dump her? No. He must not be allowed to behave like any other man on the street of Miami.

I say, let him marry the woman or accept a deserving penance.

On my part, I will recommend, castration. The best way to ensure celibacy is by castration. By castration, I do not mean the regular one. I mean taking out the nuts and the stem that bears them. That will solve all the problems we have when Catholic priests are left alone with our boys and girls. What do you think?