Santeria Priest Threatened

Followers of Santeria, although increasing in numbers, are not very popular - their religious rites have even been outlawed, although the Supreme Court struck down such efforts as unconstitutional. Dislike of Santeria can take even more extreme forms, however... like death threats.

Newsday reports:

"It's time to make human sacrifices to make your ancestors even more happy," read [Violet Skenderian's] letter, which was mailed to [Felix] Mota's religious store in Passaic on Nov. 10. "YOU MOTA _ all your family members, your lawyer, Jesus Pena, Passaic Mayor Sammy Rivera are all going to be sacrificed." The letter also said: "Santeria is an evil, pagan, ancient bloodthirsty cult which enjoys killing animals."

Ingrid Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who read a copy of the letter, said it was neither a joke nor something to be taken seriously. "I am sorry for Mrs. Skenderian for being arrested for blowing her stack," Newkirk said, insisting that Mota was the truly violent one. "His were violent deeds, hers were violent words, and I think the shoe should be on the other foot."

Skenderian is a religious bigot. Newkirk, however, seems even worse. If I read her words correctly, she seems to think that Mota should have been arrested and Skenderian allowed to go free. In Newkirk's world, it seems, killing a chicken should be a crime while issuing death threats against people whose religion you hate should be acceptable behavior.

I'm rather happy that I don't live in Newkirk's world and I hope that no one ever has to suffer such a fate.

Read More:

• Religious Intolerance & Bigotry