A bishop from the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina has lodged a formal complaint with the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith against Father Fábio de Melo, one of the country’s most prominent Catholic priests and media figures, journalist Ricardo Feltrin reported on Wednesday. The filing alleges that de Melo acted in a manner incompatible with Church doctrine during a public altercation last month. The dispute occurred on 10 May at a Havanna café in Joinville, when de Melo said he was overcharged for two jars of dulce de leche and criticised the manager’s response in a widely shared social-media post. The post led to intense online backlash against the manager, Jair José Aguiar da Rosa, and his subsequent dismissal by the café chain. Aguiar da Rosa has since filed a civil suit against de Melo and a labour claim against Havanna, asserting wrongful termination and reputational damage. He says the episode forced him to suspend his university studies and seek treatment for depression after being diagnosed with multiple stress-related disorders. Sources familiar with the Vatican process told Feltrin that the complaint is expected to remain a disciplinary note in de Melo’s record rather than lead to more serious penalties. In a statement, the priest said he “never intended to harm anyone” and is “at peace” with his conscience.