Update: Ft. Worth ban on animal sacrifice lawsuit

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FORT WORTH, Texas — A federal judge on Monday ruled against a Santeriapriest who challenged an animal slaughter ban on the grounds itinterfered with his right to perform religious sacrifices in hisEuless home.Jose Merced said he may appeal the ruling."I'm a little surprised about it," he said, adding that Euless, a FortWorth suburb, had not received any complaints about the practicebefore May 2006.At the end of the one-day trial, U.S. District Judge John McBryde saidEuless was protecting the public's health by banning animalslaughtering in the city limits but that Merced could do the ritualselsewhere.Nearly two years ago, a Euless police officer and animal controlofficer went to Merced's house after receiving a tip that the groupwas sacrificing goats, according to documents. Merced said he wouldnot sacrifice any animals at the ceremony, planned for the next day,but a month later tried to get

a city permit for the ceremonies.-- full story:http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5607803.html http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join