Texas Man Sues For Permit For Animal Sacrifice

A Euless man has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and three city officials because they refused him a permit to sacrifice animals as part of a religious ritual, according to court documents.

Jose Merced, who describes himself as a priest in the Santeria religion and as president of Templo Yoruba Omo Orisha Texas, says he was denied a permit to slaughter chickens and sometimes goats.

The lawsuit says that the animals are killed quickly and humanely and that the meat is eaten. The blood sacrifice is necessary for initiating new members, consecrating sacred shells and healing rituals, the lawsuit states.

"Santeria cannot continue to function, much less exist, without animal sacrifice," Merced wrote in an affidavit to the U.S. Northern District Court of Texas. Full Story

Related: religion, wicca, pagan, spells