5th Circuit Hears Arguments On Santeria Slaughter Ban

Yesterday, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in Merced v. City of Euless (recording of full arguments). In the case, a Texas federal district court upheld a decision by the the City of Euless to deny Jose Merced a permit to sacrifice a goat. The animal slaughter was to be part of a Santeria religious ceremony. (See prior posting.) AP and a release from Becket Fund reported on the oral arguments. Becket Fund's Eric Rassbach, representing Merced, argued: "If Euless permits animal killing for hunting, fishing, meat production, pest control and euthanasia, it cannot ban it for religious reasons." The Becket Fund release also links to all the parties' briefs in the case.