Santeria Gets Blamed Again
Thursday April 16, 2009
The Santerian religion has been in the news a bit lately, mostly because of civil rights issues and the thorny topic of animal sacrifice. Unfortunately, as we often see in the Pagan community, there is a tendency to place blame on Santeria any time an animal ends up dead.
Last month, some animal remains turned up on a beach in Newport Beach, California, and authorities were quick to tell residents that the incident was related to a Santerķa religious ceremony. In steps Chapman University professor Paul Apodaca, who says that there are enough inconsistencies in the cases that it's most likely not Santeria at all. Instead, he suggests that it's probably "someone with a disturbed personality making personal variations" on Santeria.
Apodaca is an expert in folklore, mythology, American Indian studies, and California, Southwestern and Mexican culture, but police think he's just being alarmist, and they're not investigating the animal mutiliations as a crime. A police spokesperson said, "Obviously if something is brought to our attention indicative of a criminal statute being violated we would look into it."
What's disturbing about this is that the local law enforcement folks seem to be dismisive towards Santeria and its practices, which in this case might prove dangerous. By lumping all animal mutilations in with Santerian practice -- despite an expert pointing out evidence to the contrary -- there's a distinct possibility that this could be a public safety issue. Sadly, we see this a lot with minority religions. Whenever something ugly happens, it's far easier to blame the Santerians, witches, or local Pagan population. Let's just ignore the fact that a noted academic is saying INVESTIGATING: UR DOIN IT RONG.
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Last month, some animal remains turned up on a beach in Newport Beach, California, and authorities were quick to tell residents that the incident was related to a Santerķa religious ceremony. In steps Chapman University professor Paul Apodaca, who says that there are enough inconsistencies in the cases that it's most likely not Santeria at all. Instead, he suggests that it's probably "someone with a disturbed personality making personal variations" on Santeria.
Apodaca is an expert in folklore, mythology, American Indian studies, and California, Southwestern and Mexican culture, but police think he's just being alarmist, and they're not investigating the animal mutiliations as a crime. A police spokesperson said, "Obviously if something is brought to our attention indicative of a criminal statute being violated we would look into it."
What's disturbing about this is that the local law enforcement folks seem to be dismisive towards Santeria and its practices, which in this case might prove dangerous. By lumping all animal mutilations in with Santerian practice -- despite an expert pointing out evidence to the contrary -- there's a distinct possibility that this could be a public safety issue. Sadly, we see this a lot with minority religions. Whenever something ugly happens, it's far easier to blame the Santerians, witches, or local Pagan population. Let's just ignore the fact that a noted academic is saying INVESTIGATING: UR DOIN IT RONG.
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Comments
Right on, Patti — I know Professor Apodaca, and he is usually correct about such things. Those of us in the Newport Beach area with animals are worried, and it would be nice if the police would investigate this as flat-out animal mutilation and not go blaming Santerians or Pagans. Killing and maiming chickens, ducks and a goat IS a crime, and leaving the remains on the beach is, at the very least, creating a health hazard. Instead, it’s “oh, those wacky Santerians - obviously out on the beach doing their wacky rituals!” Sigh. Bright blessings and thanks for bringing up this issue to a wider audience.
INVESTIGATING: UR DOIN IT RONG.
That made me LOL.
Someone in a town near mine killed about 13 animals and laid them out along the road. I’m suprised no ones blaming Satanists/Pagans/Witchs/Santerians yet.