Santa Monica : Animal Sacrifices Studied
Responding to a recent animal sacrifice in the city that aroused concern and controversy, the City Council voted to have City Atty. Robert M. Myers study how animal sacrifices in religious rites should be addressed by the city.
In sometimes testy debate with animal-rights activists, the council appeared reluctant to support an outright ban on animal sacrifice for religious reasons, but opted in the end to have Myers return in three months with his recommendations.
The incident in March that sparked the controversy involved an Iranian Jewish celebration of the completion of an apartment building. Two lambs and 12 chickens were killed in the ritual.
“The animals were forced to endure a lot of pain,” said one animal-rights activist.
The council asked Myers to consider whether to require permits for sacrifices, whether to require that animals be sacrificed only if they are to be eaten, or whether to recommend against any ordinance in respect of religious freedom.
“I have great concerns about restricting religious freedom,” said Mayor Judy Abdo, who cast the lone dissenting vote.
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