A Florida priest is accused of biting a woman during a dispute at Sunday Mass and could face battery charges. The incident occurred at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in St. Cloud, where the woman attended a 10 a.m. service and attempted to receive Communion, according to the Diocese of Orlando.
After a discussion with Rev. Fidel Rodriguez, where he explained the proper steps for receiving Communion, the woman returned for a later service and attempted to receive Communion again without completing the required Confession, the diocese stated.
When Rodriguez offered her Communion, the woman forcefully grabbed some sacred Communion hosts from the vessel, resulting in a struggle between them, the diocese reported. Rodriguez allegedly bit her hand to release the hosts she had taken, and she was asked to leave immediately.
Police investigated the incident and charged Rodriguez with battery, based on the woman’s account that he became upset and tried to force the wafer into her mouth. Rodriguez defended his actions, stating he was protecting the sanctity of Communion and acted in self-defense.
Witnesses provided video evidence of the altercation, according to police.
The Diocese of Orlando emphasized that while physical altercations are not condoned, Rodriguez’s actions were aimed at preventing desecration of the Holy Communion. They stressed the significance of the Eucharist in Catholic worship and refuted the notion of it being a mere “cookie.”