Santería Scams in Venezuela, Or “Put Away Your Cocks Before They Get Their Heads Cut Off”

(Please take a moment to appreciate that pun) Venezuela’s “Ile-Ife Foundation,” whose existence Google is completely unaware of except in reference to the Inter Press Service’s article about their concerns, has expressed concern (there is it) over the growing tendency of Santería babalaos (aka “master of the mysteries.” Kind of like Criss Angel.) to scam wealthy santeros into paying exorbitant amounts for ritualistic favors. The #1 favorite ritual of wealthy patrons is called “mounting the saint”. The ritual is intended to bring blessings from the forces of nature by sacrificing a goat or chicken. It does not, as we initially expected, include raping, sexually assaulting, or playfully pinning a saint. So it’s kind of misleading.

In addition to the possibly fictional Ile-Ife Foundation, the Catholic Church has also expressed hypocritical concern over the Santería scams. Says the Archbishop of Caracas, Jorge Urosa, about the rituals:

“They’re often used as a means to swindle people, obtaining favours and benefits for individuals who are nothing but con artists.”

The Catholic Church, of course, knows all about swindling wealthy patrons into paying exorbitant amounts of money in exchange for religious favors, since they perfected it in the Middle Ages (they’re that old). The Church also expresses concern over bontanicas that sell herbs, icons, and various other articles used in the practice of Santería. These shops are naturally different than the Catholic Shoppes that litter our neighborhood, which sell saint cards, saint necklaces, special bibles (Teen Bibles, Modern Bibles, Women Bibles, Divorced Men Bibles, etc) and saint coins to place in one’s purse. Totally. Different.

RELIGION-VENEZUELA: Santería Scams? [Inter Press Service]