Best thing would have been to take the ciborium back to the tabernacle, lock it and explain to everyone that there would be no more communion in order to prevent sacrilege. Finish the mass if able and call the police. If not able call the police and finish the mass later. Look into security as needed.
Not sure if it would be considered assault- non lethal force is apparently a defense in Florida for protection of personal property. (Yes as a Catholic I’m aware that the Eucharist is not property- but I’m discussing secular law).
Agreed...police should’ve been called.
Men should not be biting women unless a life or death situation.
In the actual moment, I’m unsure that would’ve worked. It’s akin to pulling bear spray out in the middle of being mauled. Does that work on the bear at that point? No. The hosts were being desecrated as he watched. He tried to remove them from her, but she advanced and grabbed several.
If he hadn’t done what he did to protect the hosts, they may have been desecrated further.
If they charge him and it goes to trial, I would vote “not guilty” if I had the chance.
The woman should be the one in jail for disrupting things and for desecrating the Body of Christ and the Church. It’s a hate crime. She knew what she was doing. It was her second attempt in a day.