St. Cloud, Florida – A priest in Florida found himself in a physical altercation with a female parishioner, culminating in him biting her hand while administering Communion during Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in St. Cloud, Florida. The incident took place on a Sunday morning at approximately 10 a.m., according to officials from the Diocese of Orlando.
The altercation allegedly began when the woman came through Father Fidel Rodriguez’s Holy Communion line and seemed unaware of the proper procedure for receiving the sacrament. After a brief exchange, it was determined that the woman was not prepared to receive Communion. Father Rodriguez, therefore, gave her a blessing and advised her to go to Confession before receiving Communion.
Despite the advice, the same woman returned for Mass later at 12 p.m., and when Father Rodriguez inquired about her Confession, she responded that it was not his concern, as per the Diocese of Orlando. The woman was then offered Communion on the tongue, but instead of accepting it in the traditional manner, she forcefully grabbed some of the sacred Communion hosts from the vessel, crushing them. Father Rodriguez, attempting to prevent what he saw as an act of desecration, bit the woman’s hand to release the hosts.
Following the incident, the woman was asked to leave the church premises immediately. The Diocese of Orlando emphasized that while physical altercations are not condoned, Father Rodriguez was acting in good faith to protect the sanctity of the Holy Communion as part of his duty as a priest. The Eucharist holds significant importance in the Catholic Tradition, being regarded as the “source and summit” of worship and faith, according to the Diocese of Orlando.
In a statement, the Diocese of Orlando stressed the importance of respecting individuals of all faiths and ensuring that religious ceremonies are not disrupted. As the investigation into the incident continues, the Diocese has refrained from making further comments on the matter.