A Florida priest was arrested after he allegedly bit a woman while arguing with her during communion at mass.
Father Fidel Rodriguez, parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in St. Cloud, was charged with assault after an unidentified woman told police she had been assaulted on May 19.
The woman can be heard detailing the incident in body camera footage released by the St. Cloud Police Department.
She told officers that the defendant would not give her “the cookie” and could not understand if it was because of her “sexuality or her clothing.”
‘He didn’t want to give me the cookie. “I don’t know if it was my way of dressing or if it’s what I like,” the woman said.
According to the report, Father Fidel allegedly became upset with her statements and tried to put a ‘cookie’ in her mouth.
The victim told officers that the defendant would not give her ‘the cookie’ and could not understand if it was because of her ‘sexuality or her clothing.’
Father Fidel Rodriguez, parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in St. Cloud, was arrested after he allegedly bit a woman while arguing with her during communion at mass.
A witness, identified as Santibáñez in the arrest report, also told officials that she believed the victim was singled out because of her sexuality and clothing.
‘He tried to force it into his mouth. She backed away and said, “No, don’t do that.” She tried to get it and that’s when he went crazy,” Santibáñez said.
But when Father Fidel was questioned, he told the agents a different story.
The priest said the victim allegedly attended 10 a.m. Mass for the first time that same day, but did not take the necessary prior steps to be given the communion host and was denied it.
The religious leader said he then returned and explained that she had indeed taken the necessary steps and is now accepted by God.
According to the report, Father Fidel allegedly became upset with her statements and tried to put a ‘cookie’ in her mouth.
Father Fidel has served as parochial vicar at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in St. Cloud since 2015.
In response, the woman tried to grab another Communion host he was holding, but he grabbed her and bit her arm, police said.
Father Fidel told officials that she had not followed the rules, even though he explained it to her and gave her the benefit of the doubt before attacking her.
“I gave him the benefit of the doubt. ‘Did you go to confession between the previous Mass and this one?’ Because she can do it.
‘No, I don’t need to explain it to you. I don’t need an explanation. You have no authority to judge me. I’m not judging you; I ask him: “Did you confess?” he is heard saying in the images.
The affidavit states that Father Fidel was trying to protect the communion hosts since they are considered the body of Christ in Catholicism.
‘Father Fidel reported that the woman pushed him and he wouldn’t let go of the communion tray and the only way he thought to get her out of it was by biting his arm.’
The priest also told officers that he did not know the woman or what her sexual orientation was and that he did not care.
Father Fidel has served as parochial vicar at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in St. Cloud since 2015.