Lately, it seems that every time a dead and mutilated animal shows up suspicion immediately turns towards Santeria and other Afro-Cuban/Caribbean faiths that engage in animal sacrifice. This is despite the fact that academics who study these religions repeatedly claim that randomly mutilating and dumping various dead animals isn’t their style.

“Paul Apodaca, who specializes in folklore, mythology, American Indian studies, and California, Southwestern and Mexican culture at Chapman University, said the inconsistencies in the incidents raises questions. “The different manners of the disposal of the remains of the animals, some careful, others not, some beheaded, some not, some interred with other materials, some not, makes this description seem not to be a Santería ceremony carefully following a ritual but someone with a disturbed personality making personal variations,” he said. “Bona fide religious sacrifices are highly ritualized methods and the remains of the animal are carefully disposed of to preserve the sanctity and affective power of the ritual.” Police said Apodaca is entitled to his opinion, but there’s nothing to lead police to believe the killings are malicious and they are not investigating the incidents.”

So these cops in Newport Beach ignore a warning that a deranged individual could be on the loose because it’s easier to chalk it up to “Santeria” and ignore what could be warning signs of a disturbed mind’s escalation. The Santeria excuse within law enforcement (and animal control) has become so popular that even when it’s blatantly obvious it isn’t a Santero/a’s work officials are hesitant to let go of a convenient scapegoat.

“Denton Infield of Newark’s Associated Humane Society, which is contracted to pick up animals from 30 area municipalities, he said he has seen a large increase in calls from the town of North Bergen to pick up dead and abandoned animals in the township. He said that in his seven years as manager of the shelter, this has never been an issue before … He said his agency has been called to retrieve dead dogs, cats, skunks, raccoons, sheep, and goats throughout North Bergen. Infield said his agency has filed complaints with the New Jersey Department of Health to get to the bottom of the situation … Infield noted that sometimes, livestock like goats are found dead in the area because animal sacrifices are part of the Santeria religion, which is practiced in this area. However, the recent trend seems different because of the other animals found.”

Yes, it “seems” different. Not, is totally out of line with what practitioners of Santeria do, but “seems different”. Since when do African diasporic faiths sacrifice skunks, raccoons, and cats? Either this Humane Society official is wildly ignorant of what normal Santeria sacrifice entails, or is so hung-up on a group that he knows sacrifices animals that he can’t let them completely off the hook. This all makes me wonder how many sadistic teenagers, distrubed adults, and potential serial killers are escaping suspicion and notice because everyone is so worried about what practitioners of Santeria are doing with goats and chickens inside their home.

Tags: African diasporic religion, animal cruelty, animal sacrifice, law, Religious Freedom, Santeria