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Probe: Smuggled snails eaten for religion
upi ^ | March 11

Posted on 03/11/2010 2:13:15 PM PST by JoeProBono

MIAMI, - Authorities in Florida said they are investigating the alleged illegal importing of giant African snails for use in a religious healing ritual.

A search warrant filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court said state and federal investigators raided the home of Charles Stewart, 48, in January after receiving information that he was keeping a large box full of the snails, which are only allowed in the United States with special permits for scientific research, the Miami Herald reported Thursday.

Federal authorities said they began investigating Stewart in November after receiving complaints that he was feeding the juices from the snails to followers as part of a religious "healing" ceremony. The warrant said the practice "is not an accepted practice of the Santeria religion" and the snail mucus made worshippers ill.

However, Stewart, who has not been charged, said he practices the African religion of Ifa Orisha, which is often confused with Santeria.

"I did not invent this. It's something that is part of our religion," he said. "It's not something meant to hurt anybody.

"What I practice is somewhat different, and that's what caused the backlash against me," Stewart said.

The investigation is ongoing.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Food; Pets/Animals; Religion
KEYWORDS: africansnails; cults; diversity; faithhealing; florida; ifaoresha; ifaorisha; invasivespecies; jpb; medicine; miami; religion; santeria; shamanism; shamans; snails

Chief Bolu was born to a Babalawo, traditional healer, to spread the word of Ifa Orisha


1 posted on 03/11/2010 2:13:15 PM PST by JoeProBono
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To: All

2 posted on 03/11/2010 2:14:02 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono

I’ll bet this “healer” sucks their wallets pretty good too! lol


3 posted on 03/11/2010 2:20:23 PM PST by Dead Eye Lane
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To: JoeProBono

Why are these disgusting people IN OUR COUNTRY IN THE FIRST PLACE? Is he a diversity lottery guy, or is there some special class of visas for grossly obese religious freaks from Third World African hell holes? If he wants to poison his followers with snail snot, he should go back to Africa to do it. How is this pagan guy making our country better or stronger? Answer: he is not. He and his ilk should be sent home. Our immigration regs desperately need to be re-written.


4 posted on 03/11/2010 2:22:53 PM PST by La Lydia
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To: JoeProBono

Disgusting and strange, but...religious?


5 posted on 03/11/2010 2:23:07 PM PST by ronnyquest (That's what governments are for: to get in a man's way.)
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To: ronnyquest

6 posted on 03/11/2010 2:25:01 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono

L’escargot, c’est grande.

A really fullbodied Red would be needed.


7 posted on 03/11/2010 2:25:22 PM PST by swarthyguy
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To: JoeProBono

“Meow” - Gary


8 posted on 03/11/2010 2:34:38 PM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: JoeProBono

And everybody thought there were problems with pythons in the Everglades ... wait till these things get loose.


9 posted on 03/11/2010 3:00:26 PM PST by Fast Moving Angel (We'll remember in November!)
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To: JoeProBono
Is this Obama's MIL's witch doctor?

Opps, I see now, he's clergy, not a physician.

10 posted on 03/11/2010 3:00:49 PM PST by rightly_dividing
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To: swarthyguy
A really fullbodied Red would be needed.

How about Al Gore?

11 posted on 03/11/2010 3:02:25 PM PST by TruthShallSetYouFree (Barack Obama: Government:: Bernie Madoff: Finance)
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To: swarthyguy

12 posted on 03/11/2010 3:08:55 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: swarthyguy

Throw in some garlic butter and melt some blue cheese over the dish and I’m there!!


13 posted on 03/11/2010 3:25:04 PM PST by Clintons Are White Trash (Lynn Stewart, Helen Thomas, Rosie ODonnell, Maureen Dowd, Medea Benjamin - The Axis of Ugly)
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To: JoeProBono

Man, you’ve got some of the coolest pix.

Sent the cooking weiners and schnauzer in a bun to my nephews.


14 posted on 03/12/2010 11:25:03 AM PST by swarthyguy
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To: swarthyguy
Thanx!


15 posted on 03/12/2010 11:33:01 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono

Has Pope Francis commented on this yet?


16 posted on 01/22/2015 10:27:43 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (Doctrine doesn't change. The trick is to find a way around it.)
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