Santeria Priest's Suit Highlights Religious, Cultural Clashes (Some religions more equal than others

[Ian David]

Last Edited: Saturday, 24 Mar 2007, 2:55 PM CDT
Created: Saturday, 24 Mar 2007, 2:55 PM CDT

By ANABELLE GARAY
Associated Press Writer
EULESS, Texas -- On many Sunday mornings Jose Merced watches police officers directing traffic into and from overflowing church parking lots and realizes his own religion doesn't evoke the same acceptance.

When police came to his home on a quiet cul-de-sac in this Fort Worth suburb last summer, it was to demand that Merced -- an Oba, or Santeria priest -- call off a religious ceremony planned for the next day.

The reason: the city's ban on animal slaughter.

Merced explained that the ritual sacrifice of an animal is necessary to initiate a new priest into the Santeria faith. He also offered a copy of a Supreme Court ruling allowing such sacrifices for religious reasons.

But Euless officials insisted that local sanitation ordinances prohibit the slaughter of animals inside city limits.

<snip>

In some places, authorities have worked to accommodate religious practices brought by new residents. Other times, participants have met with opposition, said Jeremy Gunn, director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief.

More:
http://www.kristv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6273974

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Also hard to have a sweatlodge in city limits

some friends of ours in Ft. Worth had to disguise it as "smoker", complete with pipe, so the neighbors wouldn't complain. What was funny was the couple were vegetarians!

[Dr.Phool]

2. Yeah, but my god is bigger than your god, blah, blah, blah.

I want their kids to join the high school football team. After scoring a touchdown, instead of kneeling down and crossing himself, which we see all the time, the player pulls a chicken out of his jersey and sacrifices it in the end zone.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. I think we'll see more of this

as people of different cultures and belief systems live closer to one another. Should make for interesting discussions at city council meetings--after all, if one religion is allowed to practice, doesn't that mean all should be allowed?

[Random_Australian]

5. While I think that this religion is fine, perhaps the hypothetical

'punch-random-people-in-the-head' religion goes a little far. :)

Sorry for this ramble; I was thinking about people trying to make other things legal by claiming it's their religious belief. Discrimination against gay people springs to mind. :mad:

But yes, we need to strive to make all religious views equal in the eyes of the law. :)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. there are religions and there are religions

I remember reading about some inmates at a prison who insisted they were following their "new" religion, which consisted of smoking cigars and eating steak! And about ten years ago here in Arkansas, Our Church tried to say they had the right to smoke marijuana as a religious rite. But one thing these so-called churches had in common was their agenda didn't appear to have spirituality first and foremost on their agenda.

Santeria, on the other hand, has connections to spirituality and also a historical record. This fellow didn't just invent the relgion the day before yesterday.

[cyborg_jim]

9. Respecting beliefs? HAHAHA.

Plenty of you theists talk about it but the reality of following it through all the way makes you uncomfortable doesn't it?

But one thing these so-called churches had in common was their agenda didn't appear to have spirituality first and foremost on their agenda.

Too bad you can't prove that.

This fellow didn't just invent the relgion the day before yesterday.

Yes, because we all know that the older a religion is the more true it is right?

[kiahzero]

10. You're missing the point.

It's not that "older religions are more true," it's that the religion was likely adopted insincerely in order to claim rights under the Free Exercise clause, as opposed to a sincere belief.

[cyborg_jim]

11. You're missing the point.

You can't tell the insincere belief form the sincere one based on the content of that belief.

[kiahzero]

12. Actually, in some cases you can.

Was the belief adopted recently in response to some sort of restriction on the behavior in question?

Sure, you can't prove with certainty that the belief is insincere, but you can make a reasonable determination for the purposes of the Free Exercise Clause.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

16. Uncomfortable about respecting beliefs?

No, I don't think so. I respect your right to not have a belief in a supreme being. Your life experiences are different than mine, and have led you to that conclusion. Another person's life experience has led them to voodoo or Mormanism or Buddhism or ...but you get the idea. Why should I be uncomfortable with another's belief system?

[NMMNG]

15. Now now, people pull religions out of their backsides all of the time

How do you think Scientology and Mormonism got their starts? :shrug:

[toddaa]

4. God forbid someone watches a chicken being slaughtered

Quite possibly one of the most ironic reasons for infringing on someone's First Amendment right to free exercise in a land swimming in Tyson boneless chicken byproducts encased in corn starch and deep freed in trans fats. Sanitation? Have you actually bitten into a McNugget?

[Random_Australian]

6. Super Size Me claims they use the whole chicken; McDonalds replies

that they use only 100% salted rotten potatoes.

(lifted and modified from a chaser article)

[kiahzero]

8. Why do these local governments never talk to their lawyers?

Seriously... this is why you have general counsel: so they can smack you across the head and say "No. Bad executive."

There is a Supreme Court case EXACTLY on point here. There's no way the town can win. So what the hell were they thinking?

[TechBear_Seattle]

13. They were thinking?

Basically it comes down to, "Those devil-worshipping heathen are not going to practice their vile rituals in OUR town! We are a GOD-FEARING CHRISTIAN town!" :puke:

[kiahzero]

14. Fair point.

It's just a bit of professional bitterness on my part.