Animal Sacrifice Ban Gains : Satanic practices: The new ordinance would outlaw killing for ritualistic purposes. Officials say such slaughters are increasing.

Seeking to curb an increase in ritual animal sacrifices, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday gave tentative approval to an ordinance that would ban occult-style slaughter and make such killings punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

As many as 300 ritual sacrifices have occurred in Los Angeles during the past year, leaving a trail of mutilated carcasses and missing pet reports in every community of the city, according to Michael Burns, district supervisor for the city Department of Animal Regulation.

Animal sacrifices have been increasing in recent years, with the spread of satanic cults and the growth in Caribbean and South American immigrant communities that practice Santeria, an African animist religion, Burns said.

The Department of Animal Regulation receives more than 100 complaints each year about animal sacrifices, but Burns said others go unreported and many more carcasses are never recognized as ritual slaughters.

Councilman Richard Alatorre, who sponsored the legislation, said he feared that “these incidents are only the tip of the iceberg.”

In their unanimous vote, council members turned aside the argument that the ordinance may infringe on religious freedom and ignore cultural diversity.

Councilman Robert Farrell, who ultimately voted for the ordinance, initially argued that “(Sacrifice) is an expression of people’s faith and I think we have to be careful of applying the standards of our society . . . which is basically middle-class.”

Farrell said many practitioners of animal sacrifice are non-English speaking immigrants who practice various forms of Santeria, including the Caribbean-based voodoo. “This is a challenge to the cultural diversity of our city and the tolerance of religious practices,” Farrell said.

A study by the Department of Animal Regulation said there is no accurate census of Santeria followers in Los Angeles, but it noted that some estimates run as high as 50,000.

“An inkling as to the number of practitioners may be had by understanding that within 10 minutes driving time from City Hall there are approximately 30 botanicas . . . that sell articles for the practice of this religion,” the city study found.

City Councilman Joel Wachs recommended that the council approve the ordinance, but then have the city Human Relations Commission contact leaders in the Santeria community to help them understand the law and its consequences. The ordinance has to come before the council for a second vote next month before taking effect.

Councilman Hal Bernson, in urging passage of the measure, said that there are limits to freedom of religion. “There may be places in the world where this takes place, but people who come to our city and nation need to abide by the laws of our community,” he said.

A state statute already bans the ritual killing of animals, but prosecution is difficult because it requires proof that the animals suffered, Alatorre said. The city law requires only that the animals were not “injured or killed primarily for food purposes.”

Many of the animals killed in rituals are stolen and the carcasses are often returned to the lawns of the owners, Burns said.