Euless gives OK to chicken sacrifice

by PegNews wire

EULESS — Attempting to reach a settlement with Santeria priest Jose Merced, the city of Euless gave him the OK to kill chickens and hold small weekly gatherings at his home.

Merced is suing Euless for the right to sacrifice animals, as part of his religious freedom. But the chickens are not enough; he feels he needs to sacrifice goats, too.

"You cannot do initiations without an animal with four legs," he told the DMN. "You cannot do it with just chickens. Without that, the religion ceases to exist."

Santeria followers believe that blood from animal sacrifice opens a channel of direct communication with the spirits.

Euless' ordinance, on the books since 1974, makes exceptions for the killing of chickens and turkeys for meals. The city also allows fishing and euthanasia at animal shelters.

Posted by T.G.