Word: santeria
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...takes another view of such practices. To them, and to some residents and religious leaders in Hialeah, sacrifice should be banned because it is cruel to animals and may also be a public health hazard. The ordinance was passed following pressure from residents who protested the building of a Santeria church in their neighborhood...
...ordinance exempts the Jewish ritual slaughter techniques practiced by kosher butchers, because kosher slaughter methods are designed to prevent the animals' suffering while Santeria sacrifices are not. The issue of cruelty to animals, say the city officials, distinguishes rites deserving of protection from rites which the city can prohibit...
Although the above facts suggest that the ordinance unfairly targets the Santeria religion, the city claims that the ordinance is a neutral governmental decision not formulated with religion in mind. Richard G. Garrett, the lawyer who will argue the city's case, protests rather disingenuously that both secular and religious animal sacrifices are outlawed by the ordinance...
...Court's begrudging and dismissive attitude towards the importance of religion may prevent the Hialeah ordinance from being overturned. On the other hand, it's fairly obvious that the ordinance had Santeria specifically in mind, so perhaps the Court will recognize that this is a case of discrimination...
...only interest that the city of Hialeah might have in regulating Santeria practices is the public health problem caused by disposal of the dead animals. The answer to this, however, is simply to make sure the church complies with the same public health regulations as butchers. Prohibition of all sacrifice is unnecessary...