Miami Santeria Faith Joins Forces
Posted by Doris on 10/11/2014 to
Local Events
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article2687248.html
Coming “out of the shadows,” an organization of priests from the Afro-Cuban Lukumí faith — known popularly as Santería — has officially joined forces with the religion’s most prominent Miami church.
The goal: establish a central and very visible hierarchy for a faith often associated by outsiders with mysterious rites, colorful deities and animal sacrifices.
In a ceremony last week, Kola Ifa of Miami signed an agreement with the Church of the Lukumí Babalú Ayé, which famously won freedom for its religion in a U.S. Supreme Court case in 1993.
“We have the top two hierarchies in our religion joining today,” said Ernesto Pichardo, head of the Babalú Ayé church. “This religion has evolved. We’re going from the chaotic to organization.”
http://youtu.be/YdSrdVIoUiQ
Wednesday night’s pact-signing ceremony was a low-key, family-like affair. About 50 followers, including some children, gathered at Pichardo’s South Miami-Dade home to enjoy food and desserts.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article2687248.html#storylink=cpy