Poverty and crime are reaching new lows in Caracas as thieves are making a killing (no pun) on selling the used bones of dead folks to black magic subscribers called paleros. According to the LA Times, the recent rise in popularity of Santeria is to blame, but who’s to blame for the recent rise in popularity of Santeria? Some people say it’s our friend Huey:

Father Manuel Diaz is a parish priest in the El Hatillo suburb of Caracas where three Santeria babalaos, or shamans, have recently opened centers. He says the government of leftist President Hugo Chavez is encouraging the rise of Santeria to counter the authority of the Catholic Church, which Chavez has viewed as his enemy.

A comparative religions professor at New Sparta University in Caracas says Venezuela has always had witchcraft, but lately it’s taken on a new fervor:

“It’s because the government is behind Santeria, promoting it, letting in Cuban babalaos who are proselytizing very actively,” De Fleury said.

Hmmm…seems like there could be some truth to that Castro pact with the devil theory we’ve been working on.

Not even the dead are safe in Caracas [LA Times]