A priest at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in St. Cloud, Florida bit a woman during a scuffle as she attempted to receive Communion, claiming he was trying to protect a bread wafer. The incident occurred during Mass, with contrasting versions of what led up to the altercation. The woman claimed she was rejected from receiving Communion because of her attire, while a witness suggested it was due to her sexuality. The priest denied these allegations, stating that the woman tried to grab the Communion wafer from his hand. The details of the confrontation were caught on tape, with another person blocking a portion of the incident.
The woman attended a 10 a.m. service where she was denied Communion due to not knowing the process. When she returned for the noon Mass, the confrontation between her and the priest occurred, resulting in the biting incident. The priest defended his actions, stating that he was defending himself and the sacrament. The Catholic Diocese of Orlando issued a statement defending the priest, claiming the woman forcefully grabbed some sacred Communion hosts and crushed them, leading to the scuffle.
The diocese maintained that the priest was simply trying to prevent an act of desecration of the Holy Communion, which he is duty-bound to protect. While they do not condone physical altercations, they believe that the priest was acting in good faith. The diocese also noted that the priest did not know anything about the woman and that he reacted to what he perceived as an act of aggression. The woman was asked to leave the church following the incident. The diocese believes that footage of the encounter and the police report will absolve the priest of any wrongdoing.
Despite the diocese’s defense of the priest, St. Cloud police recommended charges of battery following the incident. The priest admitted to biting the woman but claimed he was only trying to protect the sacrament. The woman’s actions were seen as an attempt at desecrating the Holy Communion, which prompted the priest’s reaction. The details of the incident remain unclear, as different accounts of what transpired have been presented by those involved. The priest’s actions and the subsequent legal implications are still under investigation.
