By In a shocking incident that occurred at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in St. Cloud, Florida, a priest identified as Father Fidel Rodriguez has been accused of biting a woman during a dispute over Communion bread. According to the charging affidavit, the alleged biting incident took place on May 19 as the priest was distributing Communion during Mass.
The incident began when Father Rodriguez initially refused to give the woman Communion bread during the 10 a.m. Mass, informing her that she had not completed the necessary steps to receive the sacrament. The Diocese of Orlando stated that the priest gave the woman a blessing instead and advised her to receive the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) before returning to receive Holy Communion (Eucharist).
The woman returned for the noon Mass and informed the priest that she had completed the necessary steps and was now accepted by God, granting her the right to participate in Communion. However, when Father Rodriguez asked if she had been to Confession, the woman stated that it was not his business, according to the affidavit.
The situation escalated when the priest allegedly tried to force the “cookie” into the woman’s mouth, and she attempted to grab another Communion bread from the vessel he was holding. It was at this point that the priest allegedly grabbed and bit the woman’s arm, as stated in the affidavit.
The Diocese of Orlando provided a statement explaining that the woman had forcefully placed her hand in the vessel and grabbed some sacred Communion hosts, crushing them. Father Rodriguez, having only one hand free, struggled to restrain the woman as she refused to let go of the hosts. In response to what he perceived as an act of aggression, the priest bit the woman’s hand to make her release the hosts she had grabbed.
The woman was asked to leave the church, and the Diocese emphasized that the priest had not met her before the incident. When interviewed by police, Father Rodriguez stated that the woman had pushed him and would not let go of the Communion tray, leading him to believe that biting her arm was the only way to extract her from it.
The Diocese of Orlando’s statement stressed the significance of the Eucharist in the Catholic tradition, describing it as “the source and summit” of worship and faith. Participation in Holy Communion requires a proper understanding, reverence, and devotion, and is not something that can be arbitrarily demanded or referred to as a mere “cookie.”
The woman refused medical attention, and police photographed the bite mark. The St. Cloud Police have forwarded the affidavit summary of events to the State Attorney’s Office for review. The Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office has confirmed receipt of the case and is currently reviewing it to determine the appropriate course of action.
