Yuku free message boards

About 60 supporters of the embattled priest whose career has been tarnished by a sex scandal held a rally Thursday in front of his Miami Beach church, according to the Miami Herald.

Some there said priests should be allowed to marry.

The Father Alberto Cutie lost his church and his radio show this week, after photos showing on the beach with a woman prompted the Archdiocese of Miami to publicly conclude that he broke his vow of chastity.

The 40-year-old Cuban-American priest was the head of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Miami Beach, as well as president of Radio Paz and Radio Peace, Catholic 24-hour radio stations run by the diocese.

At Thursday's rally, some of Cutie's defenders told the Herald the scandal is evidence that the Catholic church's celibacy requirements are out of date.

"I think this is the precise moment for the church to recognize that priests are flesh and blood,'' parishioner Violeta Ascue told the paper. "They should marry, too. I'm sure they'd still be exemplary people."

Said John Olan: "He has the right to fall in love and start a family. They're treating him as a sinner."

Speaking publicly for the first time since the scandal broke out this week, Cutie told the El Nuevo Herald that he is taking an indefinite leave from the church for personal reflection.