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July 25, 2008 12:16:54 AM CDT

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Principal Fired for Staff Santeria Rites

Posted Aug 8, 07 9:30 AM CDT in US,  Arts & Living 

(Newser) – A New York City public school principal's head is on the chopping block for forcing teachers to participate in spiritual cleansing rituals using chicken blood and incense, the AP reports. The principal paid another woman to perform several ceremonies practiced by followers of  Santeria, a Caribbean blend of  Christianity and African traditions. Students weren't in school at the time.

One ritual intended to eradicate negative energy at the Manhattan high school involved a woman in white balancing a silver tray of 40 burning candles on her head, according to a witness. A special investigations commissioner said the Santeria rituals themselves were not the problem; the firing offense was coercing the staff to participate.

Source Associated Press

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Maritza Tamayo, principal of the Unity Center for Urban Technologies (seen above), coerced her staff into helping prepare and fund an elaborate Santeria ritual to cleanse the school.   (schools.nyc.gov)
An example Santeria altar and religious objects belonging to Santeria priest Jose Merced are displayed on Feb. 14, 2007, in this file photo. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)   (Associated Press)
Despite seemingly archaic rituals, Santeria remains an enduring faith. High priest Rigoberto Zamora, of Miami Beach, Florida, (seen here) is taking the religion online by arranging consultations through...   (KRT Photos)
Followers of the Santeria faith wade into the waters of Lake Michigan, June 25, 2005, during a ceremony for Yemaya, the orisha or spirit of the water, in this file photo.   (KRT Photos)
A chicken is slaughtered during a Voodoo ceremony in Souvenance, a village 90 miles (145 km.) north of Port-au-Prince, Sunday April 8, 2007. Hundreds of people come to this tiny village over Easter weekend...   (Associated Press)
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New York City  • religion  • education  • school  • Manhattan  • teacher


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