Showing posts with label Santeria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Santeria. Show all posts

Sunday, December 05, 2021

Younger Abstention Applied While Santeria Priestess Is Tried Criminally

In Santeria Sanctuary v. Madison County, Tennessee, (WD TN, Dec. 2, 2021), a Tennessee federal district court applied the Younger abstention doctrine and stayed a federal civil suit while state criminal court proceedings are under way against a Santeria priestess who is under indictment on 676 counts of cruelty to animals. According to the court, plaintiffs claims under RLUIPA and the Tennessee Religious Freedom Restoration Act:

center on Defendants destruction of the Sanctuary and their forced entry into the house of worship during a religious ceremony, along with their seizure of tithes and offerings in violation of the Plaintiffs’ First Amendment right to free exercise of religion.... In addition, Plaintiffs contend the County officers raid on the property, as well as an unlawful search and seizure of money and animals, violates Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment rights.... Plaintiffs further maintain that such actions by Defendants imposed substantial burdens on the Plaintiffs by forcing them and the adherents of the Sanctuary to forego the practice of their religious precepts—namely, the sacrifice of live animals....

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Santeria Priest Extradited To Massachusetts To Face Trial For Stealing Human Remains

According to CBS Connecticut, Amador Medina-- a 32 year old man who says he is a Santeria priest-- waived extradition back to Massachusetts in a Connecticut court hearing today.  Medina is accused of stealing five sets of human remains from a mausoleum in a cemetery in Worcester, Massachusetts, in order to use them in healing rituals.  As reported by the Canon Place Mercury, the skeletal remains date from the early 1900's.  Medina cooperated with police and showed them where the remains were in his Hartford apartment.  The Connecticut judge set Medina's bond at $300,000 and ordered mental health treatment for him.  Medina is unemployed and will not be able to post the bond.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Santeria Priest May Proceed With1st Amendment Claims Against Police Chief

In Badillo v. Amato,(D NJ, Jan. 28, 2014), a New Jersey federal district court held that a Santeria priest can proceed with his 1st Amendment religious expression claims against a police chief for prosecuting him for animal abuse and neglect. Plaintiff was also allowed to proceed with a 4th Amendment claim.  The court rejected the contention that the police chief had qualified immunity, finding that:
Plaintiff’s right to practice the Santerian ritual of sacrificing certain types of animals, within the strictures and constraints of the religion, is a clearly established right....
The court dismissed claims against various other defendants.