Priest Charged with Battery After Scuffle With Woman at Donation Drive

A Roman Catholic archdiocese has placed a priest on administrative leave following his arrest and accusation of assaulting a woman during a donation drive event. The incident, which occurred in the parish parking lot near a hurricane relief donation bin, has prompted the Archdiocese of Miami to issue a statement while maintaining a neutral stance on the judicial process.

The archdiocese emphasized that the incident has not disrupted the normal operations or safety of St. Kevin’s Parish and School, though it has placed Father Jesus Saldaña on leave until the resolution of the charges against him. The statement refrained from further comment, adhering to the principle of not interfering with the judicial process.

According to local news outlet WPLG Local 10, the arrest took place on November 6, following an altercation at a donation event. The incident began when a 65-year-old woman, who had dropped off a donation, attempted to take photographs of the donations with a politically-inclined poster, leading to a confrontation with the priest.

The police report cited by WPLG details that the priest approached the woman, told her she was not allowed to take photographs, and instructed her to leave the premises. A verbal argument ensued, and the woman began taking photographs of the priest, prompting him to lunge at her and initiate a scuffle.

Bystanders separated the two, but the priest continued to batter the woman while she was seated in her car. The struggle resulted in the rear view mirror of her vehicle being ripped off, and the gear selector being pulled, causing the vehicle to malfunction. The priest released the woman when she bit his wrist, though she was later hospitalized for cardiac issues.

Saldaña was charged with burglary of an occupied conveyance, battery on a person aged 65 or older, and misdemeanor criminal mischief. He denied the allegations during his police interview. The case underscores the importance of accountability and justice, as highlighted in (Proverbs 31:8-9) and (Ephesians 5:11).

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