An Anglican priest in Toronto has become the center of controversy after she gave a communion wafer to a dog during a religious service.

The Rev. Marguerite Rea apologized to congregants on Sunday for giving the wafer last month to Trapper, a 4-year-old German Shepherd-Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, the Toronto Star reported.

Trapper was attending the service at St. Peter's Anglican Church with his owner, a truck driver whom Rea had invited to come to services after she met him and the dog visiting the downtown church on a previous day.

When Trapper's owner came forward to receive communion, the dog came forward as well. Rea extended her hand with a wafer to Trapper, who ate it. The dog did not drink any wine.

A congregant complained to the diocese, and the local bishop called Rea's action "misguided," the newspaper reported.

Although Rea apologized for giving the communion wafer to Trapper, she told the Toronto Star that she has received many phone calls and e-mails of support since the controversy broke. And at least one other congregant supports what Rea did.

"We're all God's creatures," the congregant told the newspaper. "If a dog goes into a church, he's entitled to every service that's offered, including spiritual nourishment."

Source: The Columbus Dispatch -
www.dispatch.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2010/07/28/dog-receives-communion-wafer-from-priest-during-service.html?sid=101