The officers explained to the priest, Jose Merced, that killing animals of any kind is illegal within the city limits. And Mr. Merced tried unsuccessfully to explain that animal sacrifice is as essential to his religion, Santeria, as the Eucharist is to Catholicism.

More than a dozen carcasses are discovered in a residential neighborhood, sparking a sheriff's investigation into a possible case of animal cruelty.

Faith that fuses African rites, Catholicism gains in popularity

Santeria high priest aims to bring faith out of isolation

Once-secretive Santeria faith brings its healing message into the open

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO -- Authorities Tuesday seized more than 100 animals being kept at a South San Francisco home for use as sacrifices by practitioners of the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria.

Police receive their first call about ritual animal sacrifices as neighbors become aware that Santeria is being practiced in their town.

Dressed in a loose white gauze shirt, white pants and white hat, the red-bearded drummer Babaila taps out the same beat he has played for 35 years. Babaila leads a quintet, and coaxes African folk rhythms from his conga as 40 to 50 sweaty believers dance their entreaties to a succession of Santeria deities.

NEWARK, N.J. -- A 67-year-old woman has been charged with making terroristic threats against a Santeria priest who performed a highly publicized animal sacrifice in Passaic last month, after she vowed to make a "human sacrifice" of the priest himself, police said.

Lopez puts marriage on hold after visit to her 'mystic adviser'

Reuters, July 8, 2003

South Florida Sun-Sentinel, May 26, 2003

Associated Press, May 1, 2003

South Florida Sun Sentinel, Mar. 22, 2003

South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Mar. 9, 2003

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