Catholic Priest Bites Woman During Holy Communion in Shocking Mass Incident
A priest in Florida found himself embroiled in controversy after an altercation during Mass resulted in him biting a woman’s hand while administering Holy Communion.
The incident occurred around 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 19, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in St. Cloud, Florida.
According to the Diocese of Orlando, the altercation began when the woman approached Father Fidel Rodriguez’s Holy Communion line and seemed unaware of the proper procedure.
After a brief exchange, it was determined that she was not prepared to participate in Communion. Father Rodriguez offered her a blessing and suggested she receive the Sacrament of Penance before returning for Holy Communion.
However, the same woman returned for another Mass at 12 p.m. and stood in Father Rodriguez’s Communion line.
When asked if she had gone to Confession, she reportedly replied that it was not his business. Despite this, Father Rodriguez offered her Holy Communion on the tongue.
In a startling turn of events, the woman forcefully grabbed some sacred Communion hosts from the vessel, crushing them. Father Rodriguez attempted to restrain her, and in the struggle, he bit her hand to release the hosts.
The woman was promptly asked to leave the church, and the Diocese of Orlando clarified that Father Rodriguez had no prior knowledge of her background.
While physical altercations are not condoned by the diocese, they stated that Father Rodriguez acted in an attempt to prevent desecration of the Holy Communion, a duty bound by his role as a priest.
Authorities have not yet charged the priest with any crimes pending further investigation. Details about any injuries sustained by the woman during the altercation have not been disclosed.
The Diocese of Orlando emphasized the importance of understanding, reverence, and devotion during Holy Communion, considering it the “source and summit” of worship and faith. They reiterated their respect for people of all faiths and emphasized the sanctity of religious ceremonies.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the Diocese of Orlando has stated they will not provide further comments at this time.
Catholic Priest Bites Woman During Holy Communion in Shocking Mass Incident
